Volatiles and Refractories in Surface-Bounded Exospheres in the Inner Solar System.

Volatiles and refractories represent the two end-members in the volatility range of species in any surface-bounded exosphere. Volatiles include elements that do not interact strongly with the surface, such as neon (detected on the Moon) and helium (detected both on the Moon and at Mercury), but also argon, a noble gas (detected on the Moon) that surprisingly adsorbs at the cold lunar nighttime surface. Refractories include species such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and aluminum, all of which have very strong bonds with the lunar surface and thus need energetic processes to be ejected into the exosphere. Here we focus on the properties of species that have been detected in the exospheres of inner Solar System bodies, specifically the Moon and Mercury, and how they provide important information to understand source and loss processes of these exospheres, as well as their dependence on variations in external drivers.

KAGUYA observation of global emissions of indigenous carbon ions from the Moon.

Carbon is a volatile element that has a considerable influence on the formation and evolution of planetary bodies, although it was previously believed to be depleted in the Moon. We present observations by the lunar orbiter KAGUYA of carbon ions emitted from the Moon. These emissions were distributed over almost the total lunar surface, but amounts were differed with respect to lunar geographical areas. The estimated emission fluxes to space were ~5.0 × 104 per square centimeter per second, which is greater than possible ongoing supplies from the solar wind and micrometeoroids. Our estimates demonstrate that indigenous carbon exists over the entire Moon, supporting the hypothesis of a carbon-containing Moon, where the carbon was embedded at its formation and/or was transported billions of years ago.

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome with regressed ventriculocoronary fistulae after the Norwood operation.

Left ventriculocoronary artery fistulae can cause deterioration of postoperative outcomes in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. We successfully performed the Norwood operation with right ventricle-pulmonary artery shunt without a cardiac arrest in an infant with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and large coronary artery fistulae. Temporary postoperative right ventricular dysfunction gradually improved, and left ventricular volume decreased by the time of bidirectional Glenn shunt procedure. Left ventriculocoronary artery fistulae regressed after the Norwood operation, illustrating that large coronary artery fistulae can regress over time following right ventricular decompression.

Causes of Ineligibility for Recipients in Living Kidney Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Even if a living donor candidate exists, there are some cases that do not result in kidney transplantation (KTx) due to problems on the recipient side. The aim of this study was to clarify causes of ineligibility for KTx in these cases, so as to make RTx more applicable for patients. METHODS: We targeted 470 patients with end-stage renal disease who applied for the primary kidney KTx from 2010 to 2012. Then we selected those who were not applicable for KTx and investigated recipient causes of ineligibility for KTx or not receiving KTx. RESULTS: The average age of recipients was 47.6 ± 12.9 (7-82) years. A majority of the 470 patients were male (n = 305, 64.9%). Two hundred ninety-seven patients intended to receive a living donor KTx and the others hoped for a deceased donor KTx. Of the 297 patients, 207 (70.0%) underwent KTx and 9 (1.9%) were being prepared for KTx at the time of the survey. Eighty-three patients (27.9%) did not receive a living KTx, with 59 of these due to recipient-related problems and 30 due to donor-related problems. We further classified the reasons for these 59 recipients not undergoing KTx as follows: (1) unclear reasons (35.6%); (2) insufficient intention to receive transplant (13.6%); (3) heart disease (10.2%); (4) malignancy (8.5%); (5) immunologic risks (5.1%); (6) death during the waiting period (5.1%); (7) cerebrovascular events (5.1%); (8) cardiovascular problems (5.1%); (9) psychiatric disorders (3.4%); and (10) infections (3.4%). CONCLUSION: Nearly 50% of the reasons for ineligibility as a recipient were related to their intention to receive KTx, with 94.9% of the nontransplanted cases due to nonimmunologic reasons. Thanks to the recent advances in immunosuppressive therapy, there were only 3 patients who could not undergo KTx due to immunologic risks. Based on these results, transplant surgeons should not only emphasize physical evaluation but should also pay careful attention to the recipient's intention to receive KTx.

Influence of Long-term Dialysis on the Outcome of Kidney Transplantation: A Single-Center Study.

AIM: We investigated clinical outcomes of patients in Japan with a history of long-term dialysis treatment. METHODS: We conducted 1171 kidney transplantations between 2000 and 2015. Sixty of the patients had undergone dialysis therapy for >20 years before the transplantation. We compared graft and patient survivals between the recipients with >20 years of dialysis (long dialysis group [LGD]) and those with <20 years (control group [CG]) in a case-control study, in which sex and age of both donors and recipients, ABO compatibility, and calendar year of transplantation were matched. RESULTS: Average age of LDG was 52.8 ± 8.9 years, and that of CG was 54.2 ± 12.6 (P > .05). Durations of dialysis were 25.4 ± 1.57 vs 5.8 ± 5.8 years, respectively (P < .05). The graft survival rates were 91.6%, 89.9%, and 81.8% at 3, 5, and 10 years in LDG vs 90.71%, 84.8%, and 78.3% in CG, respectively (P > .05). The patient survival rates were 96.6%, 93.2%, and 88.6% in LDG vs 94.5%, 91.0%, and 83.9%, respectively (P > .05). There was no significant difference in mean estimated glomerular filtration rates for post-transplant 10 years between them. CONCLUSION: LDG showed satisfying clinical outcomes comparable to those of CG both in graft and patient survivals and renal function.

Imaging mass spectrometry detects dynamic changes of phosphatidylcholine in rat hippocampal CA1 after transient global ischemia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The initial steps in the cascade leading to cell death are still unknown because of the limitations of the existing methodology, strategy, and modalities used. METHODS: Imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) was used to measure dynamic molecular changes of phosphatidylcholine (PC) species in the rat hippocampus after transient global ischemia (TGI) for 6min. Fresh frozen sections were obtained after euthanizing the rats on Days 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, 14, and 21. Histopathology and IMS of adjacent sections compared morphological and molecular changes, respectively. RESULTS: Histopathological changes were absent immediately after TGI (at Day 1, superacute phase). At Days 2-21 after TGI (from subacute to chronic phases), histopathology revealed neuronal death associated with gliosis, inflammation, and accumulation of activated microglia in CA1. IMS detected significant molecular changes after TGI in the same CA1 domain: increase of PC (diacyl-16:0/22:6) in the superacute phase and increase of PC (diacyl-16:0/18:1) in the subacute to chronic phases. CONCLUSIONS: Histopathology and IMS can provide comprehensive and complementary information on cell death mechanisms in the hippocampal CA1 after global ischemia. IMS provided novel data on molecular changes in phospholipids immediately after TGI. Increased level of PC (diacyl-16:0/22:6) in the pyramidal cell layer of hippocampal CA1 prior to the histopathological change may represent an early step in delayed neuronal death mechanisms.

Diffuse Liver Metastasis of Small-Cell Lung Cancer Presenting as Acute Liver Failure and Diagnosed by Transjugular Liver Biopsy: A Rare Case in Whom Nodular Lesions Were Detected by Enhanced CT Examination.

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a subgroup of lung cancer with a high frequency of liver metastasis, which is a predictor of poor prognosis. Diffuse liver metastases of SCLC with no visible nodular lesions in the liver when examined using computed tomography (CT) are relatively rare; however, a few cases with rapid progression to acute liver failure that were diagnosed after death have been reported. In this paper, we report a 63-year-old man with diffuse liver metastases of SCLC that were histologically diagnosed using a transjugular liver biopsy while the patient was alive, even though no lesions were visible during a contrast-enhanced CT examination.

Reductions of docosahexaenoic acid-containing phosphatidylcholine levels in the anterior horn of an ALS mouse model.

In this study, we analyzed the spatiotemporal alterations of phospholipid composition in the spinal cord of an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) mouse model (G93A-mutated human superoxide dismutase 1 transgenic mice [SOD1(G93A) mice]) using imaging mass spectrometry (IMS), a powerful method to visualize spatial distributions of various types of molecules in situ. Using this technique, we deciphered the phospholipid distribution in the pre-symptomatic stage, early stage after disease onset, and terminal stages of disease in female SOD1(G93A) mouse spinal cords. These experiments revealed a significant decrease in levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-containing phosphatidylcholines (PCs), such as PC (diacyl-16:0/22:6), PC (diacyl-18:0/22:6), and PC (diacyl-18:1/22:6) in the L5 anterior horns of terminal stage (22-week-old) SOD1(G93A) mice. The reduction in PC (diacyl-16:0/22:6) level could be reflecting the loss of motor neurons themselves in the anterior horn of the spinal cord in ALS model mice. In contrast, other PCs, such as PC (diacyl-16:0/16:0), were observed specifically in the L5 dorsal horn gray matter, and their levels did not vary between ALS model mice and controls. Thus, our study showed a significant decrease in DHA-containing PCs, but not other PCs, in the terminal stage of ALS in model mice, which is likely to be a reflection of neuronal loss in the anterior horns of the spinal cords. Given its enrichment in dorsal sensory regions, the preservation of PC (diacyl-16:0/16:0) may be the result of spinal sensory neurons being unaffected in ALS. Taken together, these findings suggest that ALS spinal cords show significant alterations in PC metabolism only at the terminal stage of the disease, and that these changes are confined to specific anatomical regions and cell types.

Blockade of IL-6 signaling by MR16-1 inhibits reduction of docosahexaenoic acid-containing phosphatidylcholine levels in a mouse model of spinal cord injury.

The interleukin (IL)-6 pathway plays an important role in recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI). The anti-IL-6 receptor antibody MR16-1 has been shown to suppress inflammation after SCI and promote recovery of motor function. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of MR16-1 on the expression patterns of phospholipids in the spinal cord in a mouse model of SCI. Eight-week-old C57BL/6JJmsSlc mice were used in this study. Laminectomy was performed at the ninth and tenth thoracic levels (T9-T10), and contusion injury of the spinal cord was induced at level T10. Immediately after SCI, mice were intraperitoneally injected with a single dose of MR16-1 (MR16-1 group) or a single dose of phosphate-buffered saline of the same volume (control group). Imaging mass spectrometry was performed to visualize phosphatidylcholine (PC) expression in the spinal cord 7 days after SCI. We found that MR16-1 treatment suppressed the infiltration of immune cells after SCI, and was able to increase the locomotor function post-injury. Phospholipid imaging revealed that the MR16-1 was able to prevent the reduction of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-containing PC in comparison with the control group. We also observed high levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) at the site of DHA-containing PC expression in the MR16-1 group. These results suggest that MR16-1 treatment influences the DHA-containing PC composition of GFAP-positive cells at the injury site as early as 7 days post-SCI.

Anomalous flow deflection at earth's low-Alfvén-Mach-Number bow shock.

Earth's magnetosphere is an obstacle to the supersonic solar wind and the bow shock is formed in the front side of it. In ordinary hydrodynamics, the flow decelerated at the shock is diverted around the obstacle symmetrically about the Earth-Sun line, which is indeed observed in the magnetosheath most of the time. Here we show a case under a very low-density solar wind in which duskward flow was observed in the dawnside magnetosheath. A Rankine-Hugoniot test shows that the magnetic effect is crucial for this "wrong flow" to appear. A full three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulation of the situation confirming this interpretation and earlier simulations is also performed. It is illustrated that in addition to the "wrong flow" feature, various peculiar characteristics appear in the global picture of the MHD flow interaction with the obstacle.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection: a safe technique for colorectal tumors.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) aims to resect large neoplastic lesions en bloc, allowing for more precise histopathological analysis. The present retrospective study aimed to analyze the technical and clinical outcomes after ESD of colorectal tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: ESD was performed for the treatment of 71 colorectal neoplasms in 70 patients (38 men, 32 women; mean age 63.4 years). Lesion size, procedure time, complications, and immediate and follow-up outcomes were evaluated. The results for these 71 lesions were compared with those for a group of 32 lesions treated by conventional piecemeal endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) performed during the same period. RESULTS: For the ESD-treated group of lesions, the average lesion size was 32.7 mm (range 13-80 mm), and the mean operating time was 61.1 minutes (range 7-164 minutes). One perforation occurred in the ESD group (1.4%) and this was treated conservatively with clipping. The majority of these lesions (n = 50) were laterally spreading tumors. Histological examination showed low-grade adenoma in 12 cases; high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia in 47 cases; and submucosally invasive cancer in 11 cases, of which four were sm1, and seven were sm2 or sm3 (these seven patients underwent surgery). The en bloc resection rate was 98.6%. For the 64 tumors that were treated by radical endoscopic resection, no tumor recurrence was found after a mean follow-up period of 12.2 months (range 3-34 months) and a mean of 2.1 follow-up endoscopies (range 1-4). This contrasted with the 6.3% recurrence rate in the 32 piecemeal EMR cases (mean tumor size 28.7 mm, range 20-60 mm). CONCLUSION: In our hands, ESD is a safe and effective resection technique for large colorectal neoplasms. As experience with the technique increases, it might gradually replace piecemeal EMR in the majority of cases.

Immunomodulatory effects of selective leucocytapheresis as a new adjunct to interferon-alpha2b plus ribavirin combination therapy: a prospective study in patients with high plasma HCV viraemia.

Efficacy of interferon-alpha2b (IFN) + ribavirin (IFN/RBV) combination in patients with high plasma hepatitis C virus (HCV) is very poor. Dysregulated CD4+ /CD8+ T cells is involved in both impaired cell-mediated immunity and resistance to IFN. Adsorptive granulocytes and monocytes apheresis (GMA) can remove infected leucocytes which are extrahepatic HCV reservoirs and also has been associated with intriguing immunomodulation and increases in CD4+ T cells. Our aim was to see if GMA enhances the efficacy of IFN/RBV. Twenty-four patients, 13 IFN resistant and 11 IFN naive were enrolled. Seventeen were genotype 1b and 7 were 2a or 2b. Mean plasma HCV-RNA was 612.9 (100-850) kIU/mL and alanine aminotransferase, 108 (41-373) U/L. GMA was performed with Adacolumn at one session/day for five consecutive days and IFN/RBV was started within 24 h after the last GMA session. Daily 6 million units of IFN, six times/week for 2 weeks and then three times/week for 22 weeks were given with RBV (600-800 mg/day/patient). Patients were followed for 6 months. GMA was associated with a significant increase in lymphocyte counts, complement activation fragment C3a and falls in tissue necrosis factor-alpha, and IL-8 produced by peripheral blood leucocytes. At week 24, 20 of 24 patients (83%) were HCV negative and by end of follow-up (week 49), the remission was sustained in 14 of 24 patients (58%) including 100% of patients with 2a or 2b. In conclusion, enhanced efficacy of IFN/RBV following GMA might be attributed to a more efficient immune function and a renewed IFN signaling towards HCV.

Preventive effect of Coriandrum sativum (Chinese parsley) on localized lead deposition in ICR mice.

The preventive effect of Coriandrum sativum, Fam. UMBELLIFERAE (Chinese parsley) on lead deposition was investigated in male ICR mice given lead (1000 ppm) as lead acetate trihydrate in drinking water for 32 days. Administration of Chinese parsley to mice by gastric intubation was performed for 25 days from day 7 after the start of lead exposure up to the end of the experiment. The mice were then sacrificed for comparison of lead distribution. The lead reached its highest concentration in the femur but localized lead deposition in the femur was significantly decreased by meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), a chelating agent used as a positive control to validate this experimental model. Administration of Chinese parsley also significantly decreased lead deposition in the femur and severe lead-induced injury in the kidneys. In addition, urinary excretion of delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) which is known to increase with lead intake was significantly decreased after administration of Chinese parsley. The MeOH extract of Chinese parsley also reduced lead-induced inhibition of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity in vitro. These results suggest that Chinese parsley has suppressive activity on lead deposition, probably resulting from the chelation of lead by some substances contained in Chinese parsley.

Efficient extracellular production of recombinant Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit by using the expression/secretion system of Bacillus brevis and its mucosal immunoadjuvanticity.

A gene encoding the mature Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit (LTB) was introduced in a vector pNU212 and expressed at high levels in Bacillus brevis HPD31. The maximum amount of recombinant LTB (rLTB) secreted into the modified 5PY medium containing erythromycin was about 350 mg l(-1) when cultivated at 30 degrees C for 8 days. The rLTB purified directly from the culture supernatant by using D-galactose immobilized agarose was identical to the native LTB with respect to the molecular weight determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and the amino terminal amino acid sequence. Western blot analysis with antiserum to cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) indicated that rLTB had cross-reactivity to native CTB and its GM1 binding ability was almost the same as that of the CTB. The rLTB predominantly showed the pentameric form when non-boiled samples were applied to SDS-PAGE. When rLTB was administered intranasally to mice with diphtheria toxoid (D(T)), it resulted in the substantial stimulation of D(T)-specific serum IgG antibody, and in the induction of moderate levels of D(T)-specific mucosal IgA antibody responses in the nasal cavities and in the lung, suggesting that purified rLTB acts as a promising immunoadjuvant on mucosal immunizations.

Intraoperative extracorporeal autogenous irradiated bone grafts in tumor surgery.

There are several procedures for reconstruction of bony defects after resection of malignant musculoskeletal tumors. The clinical results of intraoperative extracorporeal autogenous irradiated bone grafts in 20 patients with musculoskeletal tumors are discussed. The authors' method of treatment consists of: (1) wide en bloc resection of the tumor with involved bone; (2) curettage of the tumor from the resected bone; (3) extracorporeal irradiation with 50 Gy as a bolus single dose to the isolated bone; and (4) reimplantation of the irradiated bone into the host with fixation devices. Twelve bone sarcomas and eight soft tissue sarcomas with bone involvement were treated surgically with this reconstruction method after wide resection of the tumors. The irradiated bone was used as an intercalary graft in seven cases, as an osteoarticular graft in 11 cases, and as a hemicortical graft in two cases. The theoretical advantages of this method are certain sterilization of tumor cells with radiation, easy availability and good adaptation of size and shape, no risk of disease transmission, preservation of bone stock and ligamentous tissue, and no immunologic reaction. Radiologically, bony union occurred in 23 of 29 (79%) osteotomy sites. The overall radiographic evaluation rating was 74% and the functional rating was 73% according to the International Society of Limb Salvage rating system. Nonunion (20%) and infection (15%) were the two major complications. Preservation of the tendon insertions and ligamentous structures of the irradiated bone seemed to restore excellent joint function. No local recurrence was detected from the irradiated bones during the mean followup of 45 months. These results indicate intraoperative extracorporeal irradiated bone graft can be a widely applicable method for reconstruction in tumor surgery.

TT virus infection is widespread in the general populations from different geographic regions.

By PCR screening, we found an extremely high prevalence of TT virus (TTV) in the general populations from different geographic regions. This suggests that TTV may be a common DNA virus with no clear disease association in humans. TTV genotyping by phylogenetic analysis was also performed.

[Inhibition of antigen-specific T helper type 2 responses by Perilla frutescens extract].

Perilla frutescens leaf extract (PFE) is known as a natural medicine with anti-allergic activities, although its mechanism of action remains unclear. In this study, we examined the effect of PFE on antigen-specific antibody and on cytokine production. Mice were immunized three times (weekly) with sugi basic protein (SBP), a major allergen of Japanese cedar pollen, in alum adjuvant. PFE was injected intraperitoneally into mice on day 2 before and on the day of each immunization with SBP in alum adjuvant. Serum anti-SBP IgE and IgG 1 antibody levels were significantly suppressed in mice injected with PFE. Furthermore, the production of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and IL-10 by SBP-stimulated splenocyses also decreased in PFE-injected mice in a dose-dependent manner. However, PFE had no effect on either the serum anti-SBP IgG 2 a antibody levels or on interferon (INF)-gamma production by splenocytes. When splenocytes were stimulated with concanavalin A, there was no difference in cytokine production between mice injected with PFE and control mice injected with vehicle. SBP-specific T cell line established in the presence of PFE from the lymph node cells of mice immunized with SBP showed reduced IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 production compared with that established in the absence of PFE. In contrast, comparable levels of IFN-gamma production were observed between these two T cell lines. These data suggest that PFE down-regulates Th 2-type cytokine production and prevents the Th 1/Th 2 balance from polarizing toward Th 2-type immune responses.