Suppression of Trapped Energetic Ions Driven Resistive Interchange Modes with Electron Cyclotron Heating in a Helical Plasma

The resistive interchange mode destabilized by the resonant interaction with the trapped energetic ions is fully suppressed when the injected power of electron cyclotron heating exceeds a certain threshold. It is shown for the first time that the complete stabilization of the energetic-particle-driven mode without relaxing the energetic particle (EP) pressure gradient is possible by reducing the radial width of the eigenmodes δ_{w}, especially when δ_{w} narrows to a small enough value relative to the finite orbit width of EP.

Effect of steroid hormones on the innate immune response induced by Staphylococcus aureus in the goat mammary gland

The objective of this study was to compare the dynamics of innate immune components after intramammary infusion of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) under conditions of high oestrogen and high progesterone in goats. In one group ("E-group"), controlled internal drug release (CIDR) devices were inserted intravaginally from days -11 to -4. Prostaglandin F2α was administered immediately after removal of the CIDR device at day -3, and then oestradiol benzoate (E) was injected intramuscularly once a day from days -2 to 3. Heat-inactivated SA was then administered via intramammary infusion to the left udder at day 0, whilst only saline was infused to the right udder as a control. In a second group ("P-group"), CIDR devices were inserted intravaginally from days -3 to 7 and SA was infused at day 0 in the same way as in the E-group. The milk yield and the concentration of innate immune components (somatic cell count (SCC), lactoferrin (LF), S100A7 and goat ß-defensin 1 (GBD-1)) in the milk were measured. Milk yield decreased drastically in both SA and control udders in the E-group, whereas the P-group exhibited increased milk yield in both SA and control udders. SCC increased after SA infusion in both E- and P-groups, although it was higher in the E-group than in the P-group. There was no significant change in LF concentration in the E-group, but a decrease was observed in the P-group. Concentrations of S100A and GBD-1 were significantly increased after SA infusion in the E-group but not in the P-group. These results suggest that E enhances the innate immune response induced by SA in the goat mammary gland. This effect may be due to the reduction in milk yield and upregulation of innate immune components.

Abstract P5-16-24: Prognostic factors after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer: Surgery type as a new prognostic factor

Background: Pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is not necessarily linked to long-term survival. Response to chemotherapy and outcomes after NAC differ among breast cancer subtypes, so we analyzed prognostic factors by subtype.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 451 patients treated with anthracycline and taxane-based NAC between 2007 and 2015. Trastuzumab was added for human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)-2-positive breast cancer. pCR was defined as no residual invasive breast carcinoma; noninvasive residuals and infiltrated lymph nodes were allowed. In our institute, mastectomy was performed in patients in whom the breast could not be preserved, such as patients with large residual tumors and diffusely spread tumors throughout the breast after NAC. Kaplan–Meier and univariate and multivariate cox regression analyses were used to evaluate disease-free interval (DFI) and DFI prognostic values, respectively.

Results: Median follow-up was 43 months; median age was 56 (range, 23–88) years. The 3-year DFI and OS were 82.1% and 94.4%, respectively. In total, 85 patients had recurrence (18.8%) and 31 patients died (6.9%). Response rate (RR) was 93.4% (421/457).pCR rate was 26.2% (118/451) in all cases: 0% (0/82), luminal A; 10.9% (14/128), luminal B HER2(−); 43.1% (31/71), luminal B HER2(+); 59.4% (38/64), HER2; and 34% (36/106), triple negative (TN). For all subtypes, patients who achieved pCR had a non-significantly higher DFI.

Multivariate cox regression showed these associations with DFI: surgery type and Ki-67 > 30% for all cases and luminal B HER2(-); ypN (lymph node status after NAC), luminal B HER2(+);ypN and menopausal status, HER2; and age, surgery type, and clinical lymph node status (cN), TN.

Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that surgery type was strongly associated with DFI after NAC. Mastectomy patients had significantly poorer prognoses than partial mastectomy patients for all subtypes except HER2. For all cases, the median DFI in mastectomy patients was 73 months, but DFI was not reached in partial mastectomy patients (p < 0.0001). Compared with partial mastectomy patients, mastectomy patients had more advanced disease in terms of tumor size, lymph node status, and stage and showed lesser clinical and pathological responses to NAC and effects on ypN. Furthermore, first recurrences in mastectomy patients were often distant metastases, leading to poor prognosis.

Moreover, we analyzed the prognostic factors in 118 patients who achieved pCR. Univariate Cox regression analysis showed the association of the following with DFI: age (≤40, >40), cN, stage, surgery type, and ypN for all cases; decreasing Ki-67 values after NAC, luminal B HER2(−); clinical tumor size (cT), cN, surgery type, and luminal B HER2(+); ypN and HER2; age (≤40, >40), cN, stage, surgery type, and TN. In multivariate cox regression analysis, age (≤40, >40), surgery type, and ypN were independent predicting factors for all cases.

Conclusions: Prognostic factors after NAC differ among subtypes. Surgery type was strongly associated with outcomes after NAC, so it could be an independent prognostic factor.

Citation Format: Fujihara M, Kin T, Yoshimura Y, Kajiwara Y, Ito M, Ohtani S. Prognostic factors after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer: Surgery type as a new prognostic factor [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-16-24.

Abstract P3-01-04: Potential clinical application of mammography conducted immediately after contrast enhanced CT as contrast enhanced subtraction mammography

【Background】

Contrast Enhanced Subtraction Mammography (CESM) has gained worldwide popularity. It is said that CESM can not only identify tumors but also delineate high-density lesions of the mammary gland that are difficult to be identified by normal mammography (MMG), as well as intraductal progress, and tumor hemodynamics.

一In general, imaging is commenced two minutes after injection of the contrast medium, and is conducted in two directions, i.e., left to right craniocaudal view and mediolateral oblique view in the similar manner to the normal MMG.

【Subjects and purpose】

The study was performed upon the approval of the institutional review board, and included 70 patients who had undergone CESM during the nine-month period from August 2015 to April 2016 using the method that MMG was performed within 2-8 minutes after injection of the contrast medium during contrast enhanced computed tomography. The scan was performed as postoperative follow-up in 29 patients, and as preoperative testing in 41 patients. This method allowed us to obtain additional data with contrast imaging without placing financial burden on the patient, and we investigated whether this method was effective as CESM in the present study.

【Results】

Of the 41 patients who had undergone the scan as a preoperative test (bilateral scans in 3 patients, and 44 breasts), it was in 43 breasts (97.7 %) that lesions could be identified by MMG, and in 42 breasts (95.5 %) that lesions could be identified by CESM. Of the 44 breasts, three breasts showed high-density mammary glands, in two of which the mass was lateral to the margin of the mammary gland, and therefore could be identified by normal MMG; however, in one breast the mass was medial to the margin of the mammary gland and difficult to be identified by MMG, and could only be identified by CESM. The lesions in the two breasts that were difficult to be identified by CESM exhibited the histological type of DCIS, and the lesions were able to be identified as calcification with normal MMG.

The tumor diameter was compared using invasion size determined by CESM, contrast-enhanced MRI, and postoperative pathological specimen, respectively. The correlation coefficient for CESM and contrast-enhanced MRI was 0.9668, and the correlation coefficient for CESM and postoperative pathological specimen was 0.984887, with a strong correlation observed (Pearson's correlation coefficient test).

【Conclusion】

To the best of our knowledge, no reports of CESM in which MMG is performed immediately after contrast-enhanced CT have been published to date, and thus this is the world's first attempt of such method performed at our hospital. CESM ensures diagnosability without being invasive or placing financial burden on the patient. It was suggested that CESM can be clinically useful particularly for those who cannot undergo contrast-enhanced MRI due to hardware problems, financial difficulties, or metal embedded within the body.

Citation Format: Ohtani S, Yoshimura Y, Kin T, Fujihara M, Kajiwara Y, Ito M, Okada N, Urashima M. Potential clinical application of mammography conducted immediately after contrast enhanced CT as contrast enhanced subtraction mammography [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-01-04.

2D spatial profile measurements of potential fluctuation with heavy ion beam probe on the Large Helical Device

Two-dimensional spatial profiles of potential fluctuation were measured with the heavy ion beam probe (HIBP) in the Large Helical Device (LHD). For 2D spatial profile measurements, the probe beam energy has to be changed, which requires the adjustment of many deflectors in the beam transport line to optimize the beam trajectory, since the transport line of LHD-HIBP system is long. The automatic beam adjustment system was developed, which allows us to adjust the beam trajectory easily. By analyzing coherence between potential fluctuation and magnetic probe signal, the noise level of the mode power spectrum of the potential fluctuation can be reduced. By using this method, the 2D spatial profile of potential fluctuation profile was successfully obtained.

Observation of π^{-}K^{+} and π^{+}K^{-} Atoms

The observation of hydrogenlike πK atoms, consisting of π^{-}K^{+} or π^{+}K^{-} mesons, is presented. The atoms are produced by 24  GeV/c protons from the CERN PS accelerator, interacting with platinum or nickel foil targets. The breakup (ionization) of πK atoms in the same targets yields characteristic πK pairs, called "atomic pairs," with small relative momenta Q in the pair center-of-mass system. The upgraded DIRAC experiment observed 349±62 such atomic πK pairs, corresponding to a signal of 5.6 standard deviations. This is the first statistically significant observation of the strange dimesonic πK atom.

Knee extension strength and post-operative functional prediction in quadriceps resection for soft-tissue sarcoma of the thigh

Objectives

Our objective was to predict the knee extension strength and post-operative function in quadriceps resection for soft-tissue sarcoma of the thigh.

Methods

A total of 18 patients (14 men, four women) underwent total or partial quadriceps resection for soft-tissue sarcoma of the thigh between 2002 and 2014. The number of resected quadriceps was surveyed, knee extension strength was measured with the Biodex isokinetic dynamometer system (affected side/unaffected side) and relationships between these were examined. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score, Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS), European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) score and the Short Form 8 were used to evaluate post-operative function and examine correlations with extension strength. The cutoff value for extension strength to expect good post-operative function was also calculated using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Fisher’s exact test.

Results

Extension strength decreased when the number of resected quadriceps increased (p < 0.001), and was associated with lower MSTS score, TESS and EQ-5D (p = 0.004, p = 0.005, p = 0.006, respectively). Based on the functional evaluation scales, the cutoff value of extension strength was 56.2%, the equivalent to muscle strength with resection of up to two muscles.

Conclusion

Good post-operative results can be expected if at least two quadriceps muscles are preserved.

Cite this article: A. Tanaka, Y. Yoshimura, K. Aoki, M. Kito, M. Okamoto, S. Suzuki, T. Momose, H. Kato. Knee extension strength and post-operative functional prediction in quadriceps resection for soft-tissue sarcoma of the thigh. Bone Joint Res 2016;5:232–238. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.56.2000631.

Reconstruction of high temporal resolution Thomson scattering data during a modulated electron cyclotron resonance heating using conditional averaging

This paper provides a software application of the sampling scope concept for fusion research. The time evolution of Thomson scattering data is reconstructed with a high temporal resolution during a modulated electron cyclotron resonance heating (MECH) phase. The amplitude profile and the delay time profile of the heat pulse propagation are obtained from the reconstructed signal for discharges having on-axis and off-axis MECH depositions. The results are found to be consistent with the MECH deposition.

Field-driven domain wall motion under a bias current in the creep and flow regimes in Pt/[CoSiB/Pt]N nanowires

The dynamics of magnetic domain wall (DW) in perpendicular magnetic anisotropy Pt/[CoSiB/Pt]N nanowires was studied by measuring the DW velocity under a magnetic field (H) and an electric current (J) in two extreme regimes of DW creep and flow. Two important findings are addressed. One is that the field-driven DW velocity increases with increasing N in the flow regime, whereas the trend is inverted in the creep regime. The other is that the sign of spin current-induced effective field is gradually reversed with increasing N in both DW creep and flow regimes. To reveal the underlying mechanism of new findings, we performed further experiment and micromagnetic simulation, from which we found that the observed phenomena can be explained by the combined effect of the DW anisotropy, Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction, spin-Hall effect, and spin-transfer torques. Our results shed light on the mechanism of DW dynamics in novel amorphous PMA nanowires, so that this work may open a path to utilize the amorphous PMA in emerging DW-based spintronic devices.

Effects of Nutritional Supplements on Muscle Mass and Activities of Daily Living in Elderly Rehabilitation Patients with Decreased Muscle Mass: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of nutritional intervention with resistance training on skeletal muscle mass in elderly patients with disabilities in a convalescent rehabilitation setting.

DESIGN

A randomized controlled trial. (UMIN Clinical Trials Registry ID: UMIN000006238).

SETTING

A rehabilitation hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

39 elderly patients with decreased skeletal muscle mass in an inpatient convalescence rehabilitation unit.

INTERVENTIONS

A combination of resistance training plus nutritional supplementation (R/N group) or resistance training alone (R group). The training and supplementation were conducted essentially from the patient's admission to discharge (2-6 months).

OUTCOME MEASURES

The patients were evaluated at the time of admission and at the end of the intervention for skeletal muscle mass (calf circumference [CC] as a primary outcome, and arm circumference [AC]), hand grip strength (HG), Mini-Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA®-SF) score, serum albumin level (Alb), body mass index (BMI), and activities of daily living (ADL) as represented by the Barthel Index (BI) score.

RESULTS

Significant treatment effects were seen for CC, AC, BI, Alb in the R/N group compared to the R group. A mean treatment effect of 3.2 (95%CI: 2.0-4.4) was seen in CC, 1.4 (95%CI: 0.8-2.1) was seen in AC, 11.2 (95%CI: 0.5-21.8) was seen in BI, 0.3 (95%CI: 0.1-0.5) was seen in Alb.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that nutritional intervention added to resistance training during convalescent rehabilitation may improve skeletal muscle mass and activities of daily living.

In vitro Biochemical Characterization of All Barley Endosperm Starch Synthases

Starch is the main storage polysaccharide in cereals and the major source of calories in the human diet. It is synthesized by a panel of enzymes including five classes of starch synthases (SSs). While the overall starch synthase (SS) reaction is known, the functional differences between the five SS classes are poorly understood. Much of our knowledge comes from analyzing mutant plants with altered SS activities, but the resulting data are often difficult to interpret as a result of pleitropic effects, competition between enzymes, overlaps in enzyme activity and disruption of multi-enzyme complexes. Here we provide a detailed biochemical study of the activity of all five classes of SSs in barley endosperm. Each enzyme was produced recombinantly in E. coli and the properties and modes of action in vitro were studied in isolation from other SSs and other substrate modifying activities. Our results define the mode of action of each SS class in unprecedented detail; we analyze their substrate selection, temperature dependence and stability, substrate affinity and temporal abundance during barley development. Our results are at variance with some generally accepted ideas about starch biosynthesis and might lead to the reinterpretation of results obtained in planta. In particular, they indicate that granule bound SS is capable of processive action even in the absence of a starch matrix, that SSI has no elongation limit, and that SSIV, believed to be critical for the initiation of starch granules, has maltoligosaccharides and not polysaccharides as its preferred substrates.

[Female urethral obstruction and bladder neck stenosis - fact or myth - how to proceed]

The female urethra is probably the most neglected organ in women. Female urethral stricture and primary bladder neck obstruction are rare clinical entities. Traditional and new surgical techniques have been described for the treatment of female urethral stricture. However, they are based on limited data. There is no consensus on best management. The techniques of urethroplasty all have a higher mean success rate (80-94%) than urethral dilatation (< 50%), albeit with shorter mean follow-up. Urethroplasty performed by experienced surgeons appears to be a feasible option in women who have failed urethral dilatation, although there is a lack of high-level evidence to recommend one technique over another.Primary bladder neck obstruction (PBNO) is a condition in which the bladder neck fails to open adequately during voiding. This leads to increased striated sphincter activity or obstruction of urinary flow without another anatomic cause being present, for example an obstruction caused by genitourinary prolapse in women. Watchful waiting, pharmacotherapy and surgical intervention are possible treatments.