Testing mosses exposed in bags as biointerceptors of airborne radiocaesium after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station accident.

Eight years after the Fukushima nuclear accident, mosses exposed in bags were used to investigate their ability to accumulate radiocaesium and therefore to act as biointerceptors of 134Cs and 137Cs in the evacuated area of the Fukushima territory. Bags were filled with 3 widely studied moss species (Sphagnum palustre, Hypnum cupressiforme, and Hypnum plumaeforme) and exposed for 3, 6 or 9 weeks at 5 former residential sites within the Fukushima area and, for comparison, at three background sites located 700 km away. The radiocaesium activity concentrations found in moss bags were evaluated as function of exposure time, site conditions and moss species. In the Fukushima area, the moss bags accumulated 137Cs at all exposure sites and in all exposure periods, with S. palustre having the highest 137Cs accumulation ability. The 137Cs activity concentrations (from 28 to 4700 Bq kg-1) measured in moss bags increased with the exposure time and were consistent with the decontamination status of each exposure site, highlighting the big potential of moss bags to discriminate among exposure sites. Time dependency of 137Cs activity concentrations measured in mosses allowed the calculation of location-specific and species-specific factors, which can be used to predict radiocaesium accumulation trends in future biomonitoring surveys performed in the same area with the same experimental design. Autoradiography and electron microscopy analyses of the moss surfaces revealed a prevalence of soil-derived particulate form of radiocaesium, suggesting the use of moss bags as warning sensors of resuspended particles potentially harmful for local residents.

Prevalence of and risk factors for depressive symptoms in non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: The presence of depressive symptoms in patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) is an important research topic; however, the prevalence of depressive symptoms and the factors that influence their development are unclear.OBJECTIVE: To analyse the association between CES-D (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale) scores and clinical parameters such as age, disease duration, pulmonary function, imaging findings, blood data, physical functions, sleep disturbances, respiratory symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQOL).METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective study of 114 patients with NTM-PD at a single centre from March 2016 to January 2021 to evaluate the relationship between CES-D scores and clinical parameters.RESULTS: Participants had a median age of 64 years; 32.5% of them had depressive symptoms. Disease duration, albumin, C-reactive protein, pulmonary function, dyspnoea, exercise capacity, respiratory symptoms, cough-related HRQOL and sleep disturbances were associated with depressive symptoms. Binomial logistic regression analyses indicated that the CES-D score was significantly associated with cough-related HRQOL and sleep disturbances.CONCLUSION: A high percentage of NTM-PD patients in this study experienced depressive symptoms, and these patients had abnormalities of various clinical parameters. Cough-related HRQOL and sleep disturbance had a strong influence on the development of depressive symptoms.

Effect of proton pump inhibitors on the development of hypomagnesemia induced by panitumumab.

Panitumumab, a therapeutic agent for unresectable advanced/recurrent colorectal cancer, is a human IgG2 monoclonal antibody that binds to and inhibits the activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The onset of hypomagnesemia is a known side effect of anti-EGFR inhibitors, including panitumumab, and it is thought that inhibition of reabsorption of Mg in renal tubules is one of the causes. In addition, recent reports have shown that long-term administration of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) reduces serum magnesium levels. Therefore, in this study, 102 patients who received oral PPIs treated with panitumumab were classified into a PPI combination group and a PPI non-combination group, and the effect of PPIs on the development of grade 2 or higher hypomagnesemia was investigated. The incidence of hypomagnesemia in the PPI combination group (46.9%, 15/32) was higher than that in the PPI non-combination group (25.7%, 18/70). A comparison of the backgrounds of the two groups of patients showed a significant difference in serum albumin levels. PPI administration was significantly associated with panitumumab-induced hypomagnesemia development when adjusted for known risk factors, serum albumin level, renal function, and oral magnesium oxide tablets in Cox proportional hazards regression analysis (hazard ratio 2.09; 95% confidence interval 1.03-4.22; P =0.040). These results indicate that detailed monitoring of serum magnesium levels is recommended for patients treated with panitumumab and co-administration of PPIs.

The impact of olaparib dose reduction and treatment interruption on treatment outcome in the SOLO2/ENGOT-ov21 platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: Maintenance treatment with poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor is now the standard of care in patients with BRCA-mutated platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer following response to chemotherapy. In the SOLO2 trial, adverse event (AE)-associated olaparib interruption, dose reduction, and discontinuation occurred in 50%, 28%, and 17% of patients, respectively. We used data from the SOLO2 trial to evaluate the impact of dose alterations on survival outcomes and identified baseline characteristics associated with dose alteration. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We computed relative dose intensity (RDI) defined as the received dose as a percentage of the standard dose (300 mg twice a day) during the first 12 weeks on treatment. Patients were categorized into RDI >98%, RDI 90%-98%, and RDI <90%. The association between RDI categories with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were examined using a 12-week landmark Cox regression analysis. Logistic regression analysis was used to correlate baseline factors with RDI at 12 weeks. RESULTS: In patients on olaparib included in the landmark analysis (n = 185), the mean 12-week RDI was 91.4%. There was no significant difference across 12-week RDI >98% (n = 110), 90%-98% (n = 29), and <90% (n = 45) categories for PFS (median, 14.2 versus 19.3 versus 34.4 months; P = 0.37) and OS (median, 49.7 versus 49.5 versus 54.1 months; P = 0.84). Risk of RDI ≤90% increased with baseline performance status 1 [odds ratio (OR): 2.54; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11-5.82] any nausea (OR: 3.17; 95% CI: 0.9-11.23), and with body weight ≤70 kg (OR: 1.86; 95% CI: 0.92-3.76). CONCLUSIONS: Dose reduction and interruption for the management of olaparib-associated AEs during the first 12 weeks did not impact on PFS and OS. When counselling patients requiring dose reductions or interruptions due to AEs, the results of this study will help assure patients that their outcomes will not be adversely affected.

CD9-positive cells in the intermediate lobe migrate into the anterior lobe to supply endocrine cells.

The adenohypophysis is composed of the anterior and intermediate lobes (AL and IL), and secretes important hormones for growth, sexual development, metabolism, and reproduction. In the marginal cell layer (MCL) facing Rathke's cleft between the IL and AL, cluster of differentiation (CD) 9-, CD81-, S100ß-, and SOX2-quadruple positive (CD9/CD81/S100ß/SOX2-positive) cells in the adult IL are settled as tissue-resident stem/progenitor cells supplying hormone-producing cells to the AL. However, it is unclear how CD9/CD81/S100ß/SOX2-positive cells in the IL-side MCL migrate into the AL across Rathke's cleft. In the present study, we performed chimeric pituitary tissue culture using S100ß/GFP-transgenic rats and Wistar rats, and traced the footprint of S100ß/GFP-expressing cells. We detected IL-side S100ß/GFP-expressing cells in the AL tissue, demonstrating that these cells migrate from the IL to the AL. However, the cells failed to migrate in the opposite direction. Consistently, scanning electron microscopic analysis revealed well-developed cytoplasmic protrusions in the IL-side MCL, but not in the AL-side MCL, suggesting that IL-side CD9/CD81/S100ß/SOX2-positive cells had higher migratory activity. We also searched for a specific marker for IL-side CD9/CD81/S100ß/SOX2-positive cells and identified tetraspanin 1 (TSPAN1) from microarray analysis. Downregulation of Tspan1 by specific siRNA impaired cell migration and significantly reduced expression of snail family transcriptional repressor 2 (Slug), a marker of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Therefore, CD9/CD81/S100ß/SOX2-positive cells in the IL-side MCL can be stem/progenitor cells that provide stem/progenitor cells to the AL-side MCL via SLUG-mediated EMT and cell migration.

Video-based tracking approach for nonverbal synchrony: A comparison of Motion Energy Analysis and OpenPose.

The present study investigated the comparability of two video-based tracking techniques, namely, Motion Energy Analysis and OpenPose, in the context of nonverbal synchrony research. Participants aged 23-69 years held a 15-min unstructured conversation with a same-gender partner of the same generation. Each participant's movements were quantified with two algorithms, which were separately submitted to a wavelet transform to assess synchrony between the partners. Wavelet coherence and information in the relative phase were used to measure the intensities and patterns of synchrony, respectively. As a benchmark of the test results, gender effects and correlation with the Big Five personality traits were examined. Irrespective of the tracking technique used, the results consistently illustrated gender effects: female dyads showed more synchrony than male dyads. Among the Big Five personality traits, only Extraversion was significantly associated with synchrony in either tracking technique. The gender effect remained significant in both the tracking techniques even when controlling for personality traits, indicating that both individual (i.e., personality) and social (i.e., gender) factors contribute to synchrony. The use of video-tracking techniques in the research on synchrony for future studies was also discussed.

Health-related quality of life associates with clinical parameters in patients with NTM pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown a reduction in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD). However, the causes of this decline and the factors that contribute to it are unknown. This study was conducted to analyse the association between the St George´s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and clinical parameters, including age, disease duration, body composition, pulmonary function, chest X-ray findings, blood data and physical function.METHODS: We performed a single-centre, cross-sectional, retrospective study of 101 patients with NTM-PD from December 2016 to October 2019. The relationship between the SGRQ scores and clinical parameters was evaluated.RESULTS: The median patient age was 67.0 years. Pulmonary function, radiological score, albumin levels, C-reactive protein levels and incremental shuttle walk test distance (ISWD) were significantly correlated with the total and component scores on the SGRQ. Multiple regression analysis showed that the SGRQ score was significantly associated with radiological score, pulmonary function and ISWD.CONCLUSION: This study was the first to assess the effect of clinical parameters on the SGRQ in patients with NTM-PD. HRQoL as determined using the SGRQ was associated with the radiological score, pulmonary function and ISWD in patients with NTM-PD.

Evaluation of pharyngeal swallowing pressure using high-resolution manometry during transoral surgery for oropharyngeal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Transoral robotic surgery is frequently described, driven by the desire to offer a less morbid alternative to chemoradiation. However, the objective evaluation of post-operative function has rarely been reported. Therefore, high-resolution manometry was used in this study to evaluate the impact of changes in peri-operative swallowing function on pharyngeal pressure events. METHODS: Ten patients with various stages of oropharyngeal cancer underwent transoral surgery. High-resolution manometry and videofluoroscopic swallow studies were performed before surgery and two months afterwards. The following parameters were obtained: velopharyngeal and mesopharyngeal post-deglutitive upper oesophageal sphincter pressures, velo-meso-hypopharyngeal contractile integral, upper oesophageal sphincter relaxation pressure, and pharyngeal velocity. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in pharyngeal pressure or contractile integral pre- versus post-operatively. However, pharyngeal velocity was significantly higher post-operatively than pre-operatively. CONCLUSION: High-resolution manometry showed that transoral surgery in patients without pre-operative dysphagia preserved pharyngeal constriction. However, transoral surgery might produce scar formation in the pharynx, which could lead to narrowing of the pharynx.

Direct evidence of electronic ferroelectricity in YbFe2O4 using neutron diffraction and nonlinear spectroscopy.

We report the first observation of room temperature spontaneous electric polarization in an electronic ferroelectric material, a YbFe2O4 single crystal. The observation was based on second harmonic generation (SHG), a nonlinear optical process. Tensor analysis of the SHG signal revealed that this material has a polar charge superstructure with Cm symmetry. This result settles the long-term discussion on the uncertainty about electronic ferroelectric properties, including the charge order structure. We present a complete picture of the polar charge ordering of this material via consistent results from two different characterization methods. The SHG signal shows the same temperature dependence as the superlattice signal observed in neutron diffraction experiments. These results prove ferroelectric coupling to electron ordering in YbFe2O4, which results in electronic ferroelectricity which is enabled by the real space ordering of iron cations with different valences. The existence of electronic ferroelectricity holds promise for future electronics technologies where devices run a thousand times faster than frequency of the present CPU (a few gigahertz) embedded in smartphones, etc.

Giant magneto-optical responses in magnetic Weyl semimetal Co3Sn2S2.

The Weyl semimetal (WSM), which hosts pairs of Weyl points and accompanying Berry curvature in momentum space near Fermi level, is expected to exhibit novel electromagnetic phenomena. Although the large optical/electronic responses such as nonlinear optical effects and intrinsic anomalous Hall effect (AHE) have recently been demonstrated indeed, the conclusive evidence for their topological origins has remained elusive. Here, we report the gigantic magneto-optical (MO) response arising from the topological electronic structure with intense Berry curvature in magnetic WSM Co3Sn2S2. The low-energy MO spectroscopy and the first-principles calculation reveal that the interband transitions on the nodal rings connected to the Weyl points show the resonance of the optical Hall conductivity and give rise to the giant intrinsic AHE in dc limit. The terahertz Faraday and infrared Kerr rotations are found to be remarkably enhanced by these resonances with topological electronic structures, demonstrating the novel low-energy optical response inherent to the magnetic WSM.

Enhancing the thermoelectric power factor of nanostructured ZnCo2O4 by Bi substitution.

Bi x ZnCo2-x O4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2) nanoparticles with different x values have been prepared by the sol-gel method; the structural, morphological, thermal and thermoelectric properties of the prepared nanomaterials are investigated. XRD analysis confirms that Bi is completely dissolved in the ZnCo2O4 lattice till the x values of ≤0.1 and the secondary phase of Bi2O3 is formed at higher x value (x > 0.1). The synthesized nanomaterials are densified and the thermoelectric properties are studied as a function of temperature. The electrical resistivity of the Bi x ZnCo2-x O4 decreased with x value and it fell to 4 × 10-2 Ω m for the sample with x value ≤ 0.1. The Seebeck coefficient value increased with the increase of Bi substitution till the x value of 0.1 and decreased for the sample with higher Bi content (x ≤ 0.2) as the resistivity of the sample increased due to secondary phase formation. With the optimum Seebeck coefficient and electrical resistivity, Bi0.1ZnCo1.9O4 shows the high-power factor (α 2 σ 550 K) of 2.3 µW K-2 m-1 and figure of merit of 9.5 × 10-4 at 668 K respectively, compared with other samples. The experimental results reveal that Bi substitution at the Co site is a promising approach to improve the thermoelectric properties of ZnCo2O4.

Overall survival results of AGO-OVAR16: A phase 3 study of maintenance pazopanib versus placebo in women who have not progressed after first-line chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The AGO-OVAR16 study was designed to test the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of pazopanib maintenance after first-line chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer (AOC). METHODS: Nine hundred and forty patients with histologically confirmed AOC, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage II-IV, were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either 800 mg pazopanib once daily or placebo for up to 24 months, unless there was disease progression, toxicity, withdrawal of consent, or death. The primary endpoint (investigator-assessed progression-free survival [PFS]) was met and previously reported. The results of final analyses of overall survival (OS) are reported here. RESULTS: A third OS interim analysis showed futility and led to study closure and a final OS analysis after last patient last visit. At the time of the final OS analysis, 494 (89.7% of the planned 551) events had occurred. No difference was observed in OS between pazopanib and placebo. The hazard ratio (HR) was 0.960 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.805-1.145), and the median OS from randomization was 59.1 months in pazopanib and 64.0 months in placebo arms. For the East Asian patients, similar to the first three interim OS analyses, a numerical negative trend was observed favoring placebo (HR, 1.332; 95% CI: 0.863-2.054). Exploratory analyses showed a trend for a longer time to first subsequent anti-cancer therapy or death with pazopanib over placebo (HR, 0.829; 95% CI: 0.713-0.965), with a median estimate of 19.0 and 14.5 months, respectively. No new safety signals were observed. CONCLUSION: Although pazopanib prolonged PFS, this was not associated with improvement in median OS. CLINICAL TRIAL INFORMATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00866697.

Enhancing effects of Te substitution on the thermoelectric power factor of nanostructured SnSe1-xTex.

Nanostructured SnSe1-xTex (0 < x < 0.2) was prepared by the planetary ball milling method. The prepared materials were studied by various analytical techniques. XRD analysis shows the pure phase of SnSe when x ≤ 0.1 and the secondary phase of SnTe was observed when x ≥ 0.1, possibly due to the low solid solubility limit of Te in SnSe. FESEM images revealed that the grain sizes of all the samples were in the range of 100 to 500 nm. TEM images showed the grain structures, sizes and grain boundaries of the samples. XPS analysis confirmed the incorporation of Te in SnSe1-xTex and the binding states of the elements in the samples. The samples were made into pellets and sintered at high temperature. The electrical resistivity of the SnSe1-xTex pellets decreased by up to two orders of magnitude as the x value increased in the samples. Concomitantly, the Seebeck coefficient of the SnSe1-xTex samples decreased drastically as the x value increased in the samples. A power factor (PF) of 102.8 µW K-2 m-1 was obtained for the SnSe0.9Te0.1 sample at 550 K, which is higher than the reported values for SnSe and SnSe1-xTex. When substituting Se with Te, the band structure of SnSe changes, which significantly enhances the thermoelectric PF of SnSe1-xTex for x ∼ 0.1. The PF decreased when the x value was increased further (x ≥ 0.1), possibly due to the precipitation of the SnTe phase. These experimental results demonstrate that the addition of a reasonable amount of Te is a promising approach for improving the thermoelectric properties of SnSe.

APPLICABILITY OF AUTONOMOUS UNMANNED HELICOPTER SURVEY OF AIR DOSE RATE IN SUBURBAN AREA.

An autonomous unmanned helicopter (AUH) survey is a useful tool for monitoring the distribution of ambient dose equivalent rates. However, the AUH survey method was developed for plane permeable fields such as agricultural land, and its applicability to urban areas is unclear. In this study, the applicability was investigated by comparing the results of AUH and ground-based surveys conducted in suburban areas, including residential and agricultural lands. The results of both surveys broadly agreed with each other within a factor of 2 in the range independent of land use, and the factor was the same as that reported for plane permeable fields. These results suggest that AUH surveys are applicable in urban areas. The measurement uncertainty of the AUH survey was largely affected by the patchy and local distribution of ambient dose equivalent rates on the ground and differences in the fields of view, rather than land use.

Fe-Sn nanocrystalline films for flexible magnetic sensors with high thermal stability.

The interplay of magnetism and spin-orbit coupling on an Fe kagome lattice in Fe3Sn2 crystal produces a unique band structure leading to an order of magnitude larger anomalous Hall effect than in conventional ferromagnetic metals. In this work, we demonstrate that Fe-Sn nanocrystalline films also exhibit a large anomalous Hall effect, being applicable to magnetic sensors that satisfy both high sensitivity and thermal stability. In the films prepared by a co-sputtering technique at room temperature, the partial development of crystalline lattice order appears as nanocrystals of the Fe-Sn kagome layer. The tangent of Hall angle, the ratio of Hall resistivity to longitudinal resistivity, is maximized in the optimal alloy composition of close to Fe3Sn2, implying the possible contribution of the kagome origin even though the films are composed of nanocrystal and amorphous-like domains. These ferromagnetic Fe-Sn films possess great advantages as a Hall sensor over semiconductors in thermal stability owing to the weak temperature dependence of the anomalous Hall responses. Moreover, the room-temperature fabrication enables us to develop a mechanically flexible Hall sensor on an organic substrate. These demonstrations manifest the potential of ferromagnetic kagome metals as untapped reservoir for designing new functional devices.

Mid-term results of alumina ceramic unlinked total elbow arthroplasty with cement fixation for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Aims: The aim of this study was to report the mid-term clinical outcome of cemented unlinked J-alumina ceramic elbow (JACE) arthroplasties when used in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 87 elbows, in 75 patients with RA, which was replaced using a cemented JACE total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) between August 2003 and December 2012, with a follow-up of 96%. There were 72 women and three men, with a mean age of 62 years (35 to 79). The mean follow-up was nine years (2 to 14). The clinical condition of each elbow before and after surgery was assessed using the Mayo Elbow Performance Index (MEPI, 0 to 100 points). Radiographic loosening was defined as a progressive radiolucent line of >1 mm that was completely circumferential around the prosthesis. Results: The mean MEPI scores significantly improved from 40 (10 to 75) points preoperatively to 95 (30 to 100) points at final follow-up (p < 0.0001). Complications were noted in ten elbows (ten patients; 11%). Two had an intraoperative humeral fracture which was treated by fixation and united. One had a postoperative fracture of the olecranon which united with conservative treatment and one had a radial neuropathy which resolved. Further surgery was required for one with a dislocation, three with an ulnar neuropathy and one with a postoperative humeral fracture. Revision with removal of the components was performed in one elbow due to deep infection. There was no radiographic evidence of loosening around the components. With any revision surgery or revision with implant removal as the endpoint, the rates of survival up to 14 years were 93% (95% confidence interval (CI), 83.9 to 96.6) and 99% (95% CI 91.9 to 99.8), respectively, as determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Conclusion: With the appropriate indications, the mid-term clinical performance of the cemented JACE TEA is reliable and comparable to other established TEAs in the management of the elbow in patients with RA. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:1066-73.

Concentrations and biological half-life of radioactive cesium in epigeic earthworms after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident.

To understand the long-term behavior of radiocesium in the biological processes of a forest ecosystem, its concentration in Japanese epigeic earthworms (Megascolecidae), litter, and soil, and the ambient dose equivalent rates, were investigated after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. The metabolism of radiocesium in the earthworms was also investigated in the laboratory, and its biological half-life (Tb) was estimated. The concentration of 137Cs in the habitat soil and litter changed from 2014 to 2016, with levels in the litter going from 44.9 Bq/g dw (in 2014) to 45.3 Bq/g dw (2015) and 10.7 Bq/g dw (2016); in soil, these values were 9.79 Bq/g dw, 7.14 Bq/g dw and 18.0 Bq/g dw, respectively. By contrast, no significant changes were observed in the concentrations in the earthworms, which were 4.87 Bq/g fw, 5.30 Bq/g fw and 4.67 Bq/g fw in 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively. The ambient dose equivalent rates at the sampling site declined significantly over these three years, going from 2.15 µSv/h to 1.68 µSv/h and 1.35 µSv/h, mostly corresponding to physical decay of radiocesium. The majority (95%) of the 137Cs in the earthworms, observed via autoradiography, was concentrated primarily in the intestine. The clearance of 137Cs from the earthworms was described by dual exponential functions: the half-life in the rapid loss due to gut clearance was 0.10 days and a second slower loss due to physiological clearance was 27.4 days.

Simultaneous detection of ABL1 mutation and IKZF1 deletion in Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia using a customized target enrichment system panel.

INTRODUCTION: Recent clinical outcomes of pediatric Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ALL) vastly improved owing to tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). However, the genetic status would be different in each case with ABL1 gene mutation or copy number variants (CNVs) such as IKZF1 deletion. In particular, the TKI resistant clone with ABL1 kinase mutation remains problematic. The comprehensive assessment of genetic status including mutation, insertion and deletion (indel) and CNVs is necessary. METHODS: We evaluated a next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based customized HaloPlex target enrichment system panel to simultaneously detect coding mutations, indel and CNVs. We analysed approximately 160 known genes associated with hematological disorders in 5 pediatric Ph+ALL patients. RESULTS: Mono-allelic IKZF1 deletions were found in 4 patients at diagnosis. Furthermore, the mono-allelic deletions were found in exons of RB1, EBF1, PAX5 and ETV6 genes. Bi-allelic deletions were detected in CDKN2A and CDKN2B genes in 1 patient. ABL1 mutation was also detected in 1 patient at relapse. These results were almost comparable with the results of the multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) method or Sanger sequence. CONCLUSION: Next-generation sequencing-based custom HaloPlex target enrichment system panel allows us to detect the coding mutations, indel, and CNVs in pediatric Ph+ALL simultaneously, and its results seem comparable with those of other methods.

Retinoic acid signalling is a candidate regulator of the expression of pituitary-specific transcription factor Prop1 in the developing rodent pituitary.

Development of the anterior pituitary proceeds via spatiotemporal patterning of transcription factors and signalling molecules. Among them, retinoic acid (RA) functions as an important signalling molecule for vertebrate organogenesis in many tissues. However, little is known regarding the target genes in the developing pituitary. The present study aimed to clarify the relationship between endogenous RA signalling and mRNA expression of the pituitary-specific transcription factor Prop1 in the pituitary primordium of Rathke's pouch. Gene expression analysis and in situ hybridisation demonstrated that retinaldehyde dehydrogenases (Raldhs) and all types of RA receptors (Rars) are expressed at the level of transcription in the rat Rathke's pouch. Ex vivo organ culture using Rathke's pouch and an in vitro reporter assay demonstrated that RA signalling increases the expression level of Prop1 via RARα. Moreover, a reporter assay using serial truncated constructs of the 5'-upstream region of mouse Prop1 revealed a predicted cis-regulatory element of RARα. This is the first report of a relationship between RA signalling and Prop1-expression during early pituitary development.

Efficacy of fluoroscopy-guided endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy.

BACKGROUND: In endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy, surgeons sometimes have concerns about performing an adequate incision with only a narrow intra-cavital view from one direction. In order to overcome these issues, fluoroscopic radiography was used during endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy. METHODS: Peri-operative fluoroscopic radiography was utilised to check the position of the diverticuloscope, and to confirm the extent of the incision during surgery. A balloon catheter was used to determine whether the cricopharyngeal muscle was sufficiently resected. Blood loss, peri-operative complications, and functional oral swallowing scale and penetration aspiration scale scores were evaluated. RESULTS: In 12 out of 15 patients, intra-operative fluoroscopic radiography showed the diverticuloscope positioned in the post-cricoid area, and the cricopharyngeal muscle was raised and the surgery completed without adverse effect. Swallowing functions improved following surgery. CONCLUSION: Intra-operative fluoroscopy might improve endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy by allowing surgeons to confirm the extent of resection, and by reducing peri-operative morbidity and complication rates.