Modulation of pain perception through transcranial alternating current stimulation and its nonlinear relationship with the simulated electric field magnitude

BACKGROUND

Oscillatory activities observed in multiple regions are closely associated with the experience of pain. Specifically, oscillatory activities within the theta- and beta-frequency bands, observed in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), have been implicated in pain perception among healthy individuals and those with chronic pain. However, their physiological significance remains unclear.

METHODS

We explored the modulation of pain perception in healthy individuals by theta- and beta-band transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) over the left DLPFC and examined the relationship between the modulation effect and magnitude of the electric field elicited by tACS in the left DLPFC using computational simulation.

RESULTS

Our findings revealed that both theta- and beta-tACS increased the heat pain threshold during and after stimulation. Notably, the simulated electric field magnitude in the left DLPFC exhibited an inverted U-shaped relationship with the pain modulation effect for theta-tACS.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study findings suggested that there would be an optimal electric field strength to produce a high analgesic effect for theta-tACS.

SIGNIFICANCE

The application of theta- and beta-tACS interventions targeting the left DLPFC might facilitate the treatment of chronic pain. Furthermore, the attainment of effective pain modulation via theta-tACS over the DLPFC warrants the use of optimal stimulus intensity.

Modeling the SDF-1/CXCR4 protein using advanced artificial intelligence and antagonist screening for Japanese anchovy

SDF-1/CXCR4 chemokine signaling are indispensable for cell migration, especially the Primordial Germ Cell (PGC) migration towards the gonadal ridge during early development. We earlier found that this signaling is largely conserved in the Japanese anchovy (Engraulis japonicus, EJ), and a mere treatment of CXCR4 antagonist, AMD3100, leads to germ cell depletion and thereafter gonad sterilization. However, the effect of AMD3100 was limited. So, in this research, we scouted for CXCR4 antagonist with higher potency by employing advanced artificial intelligence deep learning-based computer simulations. Three potential candidates, AMD3465, WZ811, and LY2510924, were selected and in vivo validation was conducted using Japanese anchovy embryos. We found that seven transmembrane motif of EJ CXCR4a and EJ CXCR4b were extremely similar with human homolog while the CXCR4 chemokine receptor N terminal (PF12109, essential for SDF-1 binding) was missing in EJ CXCR4b. 3D protein analysis and cavity search predicted the cavity in EJ CXCR4a to be five times larger (6,307 Å³) than that in EJ CXCR4b (1,241 Å³). Docking analysis demonstrated lower binding energy of AMD3100 and AMD3465 to EJ CXCR4a (Vina score -9.6) and EJ CXCR4b (Vina score -8.8), respectively. Furthermore, we observed significant PGC mismigration in microinjected AMD3465 treated groups at 10, 100 and 1 × 105 nM concentration in 48 h post fertilized embryos. The other three antagonists showed various degrees of PGC dispersion, but no significant effect compared to their solvent control at tested concentrations was observed. Cumulatively, our results suggests that AMD3645 might be a better candidate for abnormal PGC migration in Japanese anchovy and warrants further investigation.

Pattern recognition receptors involved in the immune system of hagfish (Eptatretus burgeri)

The initial defense against invading pathogenic microbes is the activation of innate immunity by binding of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) to pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). To explain the action of PRRs from hagfish, one of the extant jawless vertebrates, we purified the GlcNAc recognition complex (GRC) from serum using GlcNAc-agarose. The GRC comprises four proteins of varying molecular masses: 19 kDa, 26 kDa, 27 kDa, and 31 kDa. Exposure of Escherichia coli to the GRC led to the phagocytic activation of macrophages, revealing the opsonic function of the GRC. The GRC in serum formed a large complex with a molecular mass of approximately 1200 kDa. The GRC bound to Escherichia coli but not to rabbit red blood cells, despite both having GlcNAc on their surface. These structural and binding properties are similar to those of mannose-binding lectin (MBL). The amino acid sequence of a portion of the 31 kDa protein in the GRC matched the amino acid sequence of variable lymphocyte receptor (VLR)-B in some place. According to the Western blot analysis, the 31 kDa protein was recognized by the anti-hagfish VLR-B antiserum. Based on the results, it appears that the GRC functions as a PRR like MBL and that its 31 kDa protein has a structure similar to that of VLR-B.

Early Release Science of the exoplanet WASP-39b with JWST NIRSpec PRISM

Transmission spectroscopy1-3 of exoplanets has revealed signatures of water vapour, aerosols and alkali metals in a few dozen exoplanet atmospheres4,5. However, these previous inferences with the Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes were hindered by the observations' relatively narrow wavelength range and spectral resolving power, which precluded the unambiguous identification of other chemical species-in particular the primary carbon-bearing molecules6,7. Here we report a broad-wavelength 0.5-5.5 µm atmospheric transmission spectrum of WASP-39b8, a 1,200 K, roughly Saturn-mass, Jupiter-radius exoplanet, measured with the JWST NIRSpec's PRISM mode9 as part of the JWST Transiting Exoplanet Community Early Release Science Team Program10-12. We robustly detect several chemical species at high significance, including Na (19σ), H2O (33σ), CO2 (28σ) and CO (7σ). The non-detection of CH4, combined with a strong CO2 feature, favours atmospheric models with a super-solar atmospheric metallicity. An unanticipated absorption feature at 4 µm is best explained by SO2 (2.7σ), which could be a tracer of atmospheric photochemistry. These observations demonstrate JWST's sensitivity to a rich diversity of exoplanet compositions and chemical processes.

All-proportional solid solution versus two-phase coexistence in the Ti-V alloy by first-principles phase field and SQS methods

The microstructures of the Ti–V alloy are studied by purely first-principles calculations without relying on any empirical or experimental parameter. The special quasirandom structure model is employed to treat the all-proportional solid solution \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\beta$$\end{document}β phase, while the first-principles phase field method or its variant is employed to treat the coexistence phases. The linearity of the calculated local free energy against the integer Ti\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$_n$$\end{document}nV\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$_m$$\end{document}m composition in the cluster expansion method manifests a clear evidence of the solid solution behavior. From a detailed energy comparison, our results are consistent with the experimental fact that the Ti–V alloy is an all-proportional solid solution of the \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\beta$$\end{document}β phase at high temperatures and exhibits an \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\alpha +\beta$$\end{document}α+β coexistence at low temperatures. Moreover, it is found that mosaic-type microstructures may appear as a metastable phase, as observed by many experiments. The first-principles criterion for the all-proportional solid solution behavior presented in this paper is very general and can be applied to any other binary or multi-component alloys.

Extended quasiparticle approach to non-resonant and resonant X-ray emission spectroscopy

The initial state of X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) and resonant inelastic X-ray emission spectroscopy (RIXS) is a highly excited eigenstate with a deep core hole after a X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy...

Influences of smoking on central blood pressure in hypertensive subjects

Background/Introduction

Smoking is known to induce systemic vascular damage, leading to cardiovascular diseases. Recent studies demonstrated that central blood pressure has a greater impact on cardiovascular events than brachial blood pressure.

Purpose

We investigated influences of habitual smoking on central systolic blood pressure (CSBP) in hypertensive subjects.

Methods

A total of 5630 subjects (male = 2622, 51.7±12.0 year-old at baseline), who visited our hospital for a physical check-up at least twice during the last 10 years and underwent CSBP measurement at each visit, were enrolled, and they were divided into three groups; normotensive (n=4634), non-treated hypertensive (n=91) and treated hypertensive subjects (n=905). Then, the influences of smoking on the average and yearly changes of CSBP (median follow-up 5 years) were analyzed. Brachial blood pressure (oscillometer) and radial artery pressure waveforms (tonometer) were recorded using an automated device, and the pressure corresponding to the second systolic peak of radial pressure waveforms was taken as CSBP (HEM-9000AI, Omron Healthcare, Kyoto). Hypertension was defined as brachial BP ≥140/90mmHg or the use of antihypertensive medications. A yearly change in CSBP was calculated in each subject by linear regression analysis using longitudinal data.

Results

The average CSBP was higher in habitual smokers than in non-smokers when analyzed in normotensive (109.1±11.7 vs. 107.6±12.8 mmHg, p<0.001) and non-treated hypertensive subjects (150.7±14.8 vs. 142.8±16.7 mmHg, p<0.05), whereas in hypertensive subjects under medication the average CSBP was lower in smokers than in non-smokers (124.6±12.4 vs. 127.8±13.6 mmHg, p<0.01). Smoking status did not affect yearly changes of CSBP in normotensive (habitual smokers vs. non-smokers; 1.38±6.00 vs. 1.44±6.04 mmHg/year), treated hypertensive (−0.16±7.08 vs. −0.66±8.24 mmHg/year), and non-treated hypertensive subjects (4.09±15.1 vs. −0.53±10.3 mmHg/year).

Conclusions

Habitual smoking increases CSBP, however, antihypertensive medications counteract the unfavorable effects of smoking on CSBP. These results imply a new pathway underlying the development of cardiovascular diseases in smokers. Unfavorable changes in the cardiovascular system caused by smoking may quite slowly progress that short period of observation in the present study could not have detected enhanced yearly increases of CSBP by smoking.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Relationship between year-to-year blood pressure variability and target organ damage in the general population

Background/Introduction

Visit-to-visit blood pressure variability (BPV) is a strong predictor of cardiovascular events as well as target organ damage (TOD) in hypertension. However, effects of year-to-year BPV on the development of TOD have not been investigated in the general population.

Purpose

The present study was designed to investigate a possible relationship between year-to-year BPV and TOD in the general population.

Methods

Consecutive 5542 subjects (male=3771, 58.6±10.7 yea-old) who visited our hospital for an annual physical check-up for 5 years in a row during 2008 and 2013 were enrolled. The average, standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), and average real variability (ARV) of systolic blood pressure (SBP) were calculated using data during the period. Other baseline data were obtained in 2013; left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH; Sokolow-Lyon voltage >3.8 mV and/or Cornell product >2440 mm ms) and kidney impairment (estimated glomerular filtration rate; eGFR<60) were taken as TOD. Then, subjects without TOD at baseline (2013) (n=3801, male=2584, 57.4±10.4 yea-old) were followed up until 2019 (median = 5 years) and the impact of BPV on the development of TOD was investigated.

Results

The average, SD, CV and ARV of SBP were 123.8 mmHg, 8.04 mmHg, 6.50%, and 9.19 mmHg, respectively. At baseline, these parameters were higher in subjects with TOD than those without TOD (Table 1-A). During the follow-up of subjects without TOD at baseline, LVH and kidney impairment developed in 425 and 623 subjects (24.7 and 35.8 per 1000 person-year), respectively. In retrospective analysis, the average, SD, and ARV were higher in subjects with than without future TOD (Table 1-B). Although some indices of year-to-year BPV predicted future development of TOD in univariate Cox-hazard analysis, only the average of SBP predicted incident TOD after adjustment.

Conclusions

Year-to-year BPV is a marker of the incident TOD in the general population. However, these indices do not independently predict the onset of TOD and, thus, there may be unknown pathway that links TOD and BPV.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None. Table 1. BP variability and TODTable 2. Cox-hazard analyses

High-throughput computational discovery of ternary-layered MAX phases and prediction of their exfoliation for formation of 2D MXenes

The rush to synthesize novel two-dimensional (2D) materials has excited the research community studying ternary-layered carbide and nitride compounds, known as MAX phases, for the past two decades in the quest to develop new 2D material precursors. The objective of this study is to expand the family of MAX phases and to investigate their feasible exfoliation to generate 2D systems. To expand the family of MAX phases, we conduct systematic and fundamental research using elemental information and data from high-throughput density functional theory calculations performed on 1122 MAX candidates. Our results suggest that 466 MAX compounds can be synthesized, among which 136 MAX phases can be exfoliated to produce 26 MXenes. We investigate the transition metal or A elements that could be suitable for the formation of novel MAX phase carbides or nitrides and determine promising MAX phases that can be exfoliated to form 2D systems.

Estrogen receptor 2b is the major determinant of sex-typical mating behavior and sexual preference in medaka

Male and female animals typically display innate sex-specific mating behaviors, which, in vertebrates, are highly dependent on sex steroid signaling. While estradiol-17β (E2) signaling through estrogen receptor 2 (ESR2) serves to defeminize male mating behavior in rodents, the available evidence suggests that E2 signaling is not required in teleosts for either male or female mating behavior. Here, we report that female medaka deficient for Esr2b, a teleost ortholog of ESR2, are not receptive to males but rather court females, despite retaining normal ovarian function with an unaltered sex steroid milieu. Thus, contrary to both prevailing views in rodents and teleosts, E2/Esr2b signaling in the brain plays a decisive role in feminization and demasculinization of female mating behavior and sexual preference in medaka. Further behavioral testing showed that mutual antagonism between E2/Esr2b signaling and androgen receptor-mediated androgen signaling in adulthood induces and actively maintains sex-typical mating behaviors and preference. Our results also revealed that the female-biased sexual dimorphism in esr2b expression in the telencephalic and preoptic nuclei implicated in mating behavior can be reversed between males and females by altering the sex steroid milieu in adulthood, likely via mechanisms involving direct E2-induced transcriptional activation. In addition, Npba, a neuropeptide mediating female sexual receptivity, was found to act downstream of E2/Esr2b signaling in these brain nuclei. Collectively, these functional and regulatory mechanisms of E2/Esr2b signaling presumably underpin the neural mechanism for induction, maintenance, and reversal of sex-typical mating behaviors and sexual preference in teleosts, at least in medaka.

Creation of Mo/Tc@C60 and Au@C60 and molecular-dynamics simulations

The formation of middle- and/or high-weight atom (Mo, Au)-incorporated fullerenes was investigated using radionuclides produced by nuclear reactions. From the trace radioactivities of ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc or ¹⁹⁴Au after high-performance liquid chromatography, it was found that the formation of endohedral and/or heterofullerene fullerenes in ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc and ¹⁹⁴Au atoms could occur by a recoil process following the nuclear reactions. Furthermore, the ^99mTc (and ¹⁹⁴Au) atoms recoiled against β-decay remained present inside these cages. To confirm the produced materials experimentally, ab initio molecular dynamics (MD) simulations based on an all-electron mixed-basis approach were performed. The possibility of the formation of endohedral fullerenes containing Mo/Tc and Au atoms is verified; here, the formation of heterofullerenes is excluded by MD simulations. These findings suggest that radionuclides stably encapsulated by fullerenes could potentially play a valuable role in diagnostic nuclear medicine.

The formation of Mo, Au-incorporated fullerenes was investigated using radionuclides produced by nuclear reactions and using AIMD simulations. The possibility of the formation of endohedral fullerenes containing Mo/Tc and Au atoms is verified.

Effect of advancing age on dietary salt intakes: a 10-year follow-up study

Background/Introduction

The National Nutrition Survey in Japan indicated that dietary salt intake of the Japanese is gradually decreasing for the last several decades, while salt intakes are higher in elderly than young people. There is no survey on the alteration of salt intakes with advancing age in individuals.

Purpose

The present study investigated effects of aging on salt intakes in individuals.

Methods

A total of 2600 subjects (men; 1787, age; 30 to 79 years-old at 2008) who participated in our physical check-up program both in 2008 and 2018 were enrolled. Individual dietary salt intakes in 2008 and 2018, which were estimated using a spot urine by a previously reported method, were compared.

Results

The mean age and salt intakes at 2008 were 53.9±10.0 years and 12.2±3.2 g/day in men and 54.4±9.2 years and 8.3±2.1 g/day in women, respectively. Salt intake increased to 13.2±3.3 g/day in men and 8.8±2.2 g/day in women during the 10 years. Salt intakes were higher in hypertensive than normotensive subjects both at 2008 and 2018, but changes of blood pressure category were not associated with those of salt intakes during the 10 years (table). Changes in salt intakes in each decade are shown in Figure. Salt intakes in each decade increased with advancing age both in men and women until their 70s. Salt intakes in people in their 60s and 70s at 2018 were higher than those at 2008. Similar results were obtained in subjects without any anti-hypertensive medications (n=1667) (data not shown).

Conclusions

The observational follow-up study revealed that salt intakes in each individual increased after the interval of 10 years in both men and women. The results suggest that the sense of taste changes with advancing age in young adults as well as elderly persons, which may be related with alterations of lifestyle.

Age difference in changes of salt intake

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

What is the optimal blood pressure level for kidney in the general population?

Background/Introduction

Hypertension induces kidney dysfunction, and vice versa. Furthermore, kidney dysfunction can be a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases as well as end-stage of kidney disease. Although blood pressure (BP) control is necessary to prevent deterioration of kidney function, strict BP control may deteriorate kidney function.

Purpose

The present observational study investigated effects of BP levels on the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the general population.

Methods

A total of 12,753 subjects with normal kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] ≥60 mL/min per 1.73 m2) (male 7,707, mean age 51.8 years) who visited our hospital for an annual physical check-up from April 2010 to March 2018 were enrolled. After baseline examination, subjects were followed up until March 2019 (median 1769 days) with the endpoint being the development of CKD (eGFR<60 mL/min per 1.73 m2). The modified MDRD formula for Japanese was used to calculate eGFR. Hypertension was defined as BP ≥140/90mmHg or the use of antihypertensive medication.

Results

During the follow-up period, 1,604 subjects developed CKD (26.9 per 1,000 person-years) with the incidence being more frequent in hypertensive (n=3,098) than normotensive (n=9,655) subjects at enrollment (44.2 vs. 21.5 per 1,000 person-years, respectively; hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] from multivariate Cox proportional analysis 1.205 [1.061–1.369]). Hazard ratio of systolic BP at baseline was 1.006 [1.002–1.010] in a multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model adjusted for possible risk factors. The incidence was lower in subjects without hypertension throughout the follow-up period (normotension group, n=7,866) than those who were diagnosed as having hypertension at least once during the period (hypertension group, n=4,887) (23.1 vs. 32.3 per 1,000 person-years, p<0.001). In the normotension group, subjects with average BP <120/80mmHg had lower incidence of CKD than in those with BP ≥120/80mmHg (17.2 vs. 36.1 per 1,000 person-years, p<0.001). In contrast, in the hypertension group, the incidences of CKD in subjects with average BP <120/80, 120–139/80–89 and ≥140/90mmHg were 34.3, 25.8, and 54.4 per 1,000 person-years, respectively (p<0.001). Moreover, in hypertensive subjects under medication (n=2,002) with average BP <120/80, 120–139/80–89 and ≥140/90mmHg, the incidence of CKD was 65.5, 41.3, and 64.3 per 1,000 person-years, respectively (p<0.01).

Conclusions

The incidence of CKD was higher in hypertensive than in normotensive subjects. The lower BP was associated with the lower incidence of CKD in normotensive subjects, while strict BP control may increase the risk of CKD in hypertensive subjects.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Excessive salt intake is a significant predictor for future development of metabolic syndrome in the general population

Background/Introduction

Dietary salt consumption is one of the most important modifiable factors in our lifestyle and restriction of dietary salt results in the reduction of blood pressure in previous studies. Excessive salt intake causes cardiovascular diseases independently of its effects on blood pressure. Since metabolic syndrome also increases a risk of cardiovascular disease, there may be some association between salt intake and metabolic syndrome.

Purpose

The present study was designed to investigate a possible relationship between salt intake and future development of metabolic syndrome in the general population.

Methods

Consecutive 12,256 subjects without metabolic syndrome (male=7,053, 52.1±12.3 year-old) who visited our hospital for an annual physical check-up from April 2010 to March 2018 were enrolled. After baseline examination, subjects were followed up until March 2019 (median 1,582 days) with the endpoint being the development of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the Japanese criteria (2005). Individual salt intake was estimated using a spot urine by a previously reported method.

Results

Salt intake was 11.9±3.0 g/day in male and 8.2±2.1 g/day in female subjects at baseline. During the follow-up period, 1,669 subjects developed metabolic syndrome (29.9 per 1,000 person-year) with the incidence being more frequent in male than female subjects (41.8 vs. 14.2 per 1,000 person-year). Non-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) of salt intake for the development of metabolic syndrome was 1.157 (1.142–1.173). In analysis where subjects were divided into gender-specific quartiles according to the baseline salt intake, Kaplan-Meyer curve analysis revealed that the incidence of metabolic syndrome were increased across the quartiles (20.6, 25.0, 32.4, and 42.7 per 1,000 person-years; logrank p<0.001). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis adjusted for age, gender, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, serum creatinine, uric acid, fasting plasma glucose, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, hemoglobin and current smoking habit at baseline revealed that salt intake predicted the new onset of metabolic syndrome (HR: 1.036, 95% CI: 1.019–1.054).

Conclusions

Excessive salt intake is significantly associated with the new development of metabolic syndrome in the general population. The results suggest that salt restriction prevents metabolic syndrome as well as hypertension leading to cardiovascular diseases.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Clear evidence for element partitioning effects in a Ti-6Al-4V alloy by the first-principles phase field method

Ti-6 wt% Al-4 wt% V (Ti64) is an α + β titanium alloy, in which the alloying components strongly affect the mechanical properties. In this report, element partitioning effects in Ti64 are investigated by using the first-principles phase field (FPPF) method, which has recently been proposed by our group. In the FPPF method, the local free energy is calculated using a cluster expansion method in combination with density functional theory and the temperature effect is incorporated using potential renormalization theory. We have succeeded in identifying enrichment of Al (V) in the α (β) phase, i.e., the clear evidence for the element partitioning effects of Al and V, without using any thermodynamical parameter. The transformation of the β phase and the α phase in microstructure is investigated by varying the V and Al concentrations by a small amount. Our results are in excellent agreement with the recent experimental results, showing the validity of the FPPF method for ternary alloys.

Mass production of low-boiling point solvent- and water-soluble graphene by simple salt-assisted ball milling

Developing a mass production method for graphene is essential for practical usage of this remarkable material. Direct exfoliation of graphite in a liquid is a promising approach for production of high quality graphene. However, this technique has three huge obstacles to be solved; limitation of solvent, low yield and low quality (i.e., multilayer graphene with a small size). Here, we found that soluble graphite produced by mechanochemical reaction with salts overcomes the above three drawbacks. Soluble graphite was exfoliated into monolayer graphene with more than 10% yield in five minutes of sonication. The modified graphite was easily exfoliated in a low-boiling point solvent such as acetone, alcohol and water without the aid of a surfactant. Molecular simulation revealed that the salt is adsorbed to the active carbon at the graphite edge. In the case of weak acid salts, the original bonding nature between the alkali ion and the base molecule is retained after the reaction. Thus, alkali metals are easily dissociated in a polar solvent, leading to negative charge of graphene, enabling the exfoliation of graphite in low boiling point solvents. The approach proposed here opens up a new door to practical usage of the attractive 2D material.

1415Dose antihypertensive medication improve accelerated age-dependent decline of GFR in hypertension?

Background/Introduction

An impairment of kidney function is a risk not only for end stage renal disease but also for cardiovascular events. Hypertension is known to accelerate an age-dependent decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

Purpose

Effects of antihypertensive medications on yearly changes of estimate GFR (eGFR) in hypertensive patients were investigated.

Methods

Consecutive 5110 subjects (male=3196, 52.3±11.3 year-old) who participated in our physical check-up program during 2010 and 2012 were enrolled and followed up for 5 years. The average and the yearly change of eGFR during the 5 years were calculated in each individual and the both values were compared in hypertensive and normotensive subjects. Effect of antihypertensive medication on eGFR was also investigated. The modified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease study formula for the Japanese population was used for calculating eGFR.

Results

In hypertensive subjects (n=1408), the baseline and the average of eGFR were smaller (74.8±14.6 vs. 80.4±13.6, p<0.001 and 72.1±13.2 vs. 77.9±11.9 mL/min per 1.73 m2, p<0.001, respectively) and the yearly decline of eGFR was greater (0.96±1.41 vs. 0.84±1.19 mL/min per 1.73 m2 per year, p<0.01) than in normotensive subjects (n=3702). The baseline and the average of eGFR were smaller in hypertensive patients with (n=1234) than without (n=174) antihypertensive medication (74.3±14.6 vs. 78.3±13.8, p<0.001 and 71.7±13.2 vs. 74.9±12.7 mL/min per 1.73 m2, p<0.01, respectively). Although the yearly decline of eGFR in hypertensive patients with medication tended to be smaller than the decline in those without medication (0.94±1.41 vs. 1.09±1.42 mL/min per 1.73 m2 per year), this did not reach a statistical significance (p=0.213). Neither the number, classes of antihypertensive medications nor systolic blood pressure during the follow-up period did affect the average or yearly decline of eGFR in hypertensive patients.

Conclusions

As compared to normotensive subjects, eGFR was reduced and a yearly decrease in eGFR during the 5 years was accelerated in hypertensive patients. Although antihypertensive medication may reduce an accelerated age-dependent decline of kidney function in hypertension, observational period in this study was too short to clarify such beneficial effects of antihypertensive medications.

P1545Predictve factor for major adverse cardiovascular events in health check-up participants

Background/Introduction

Health check-up has been carried out for individual health management. One of its main objectives is the early detection and prevention of major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE).

Purpose

We investigated predictive factors for MACE among clinical test items in health check-up program.

Methods

A total of 13522 subjects (male=8140, 52.8±12.3 year-old at baseline), who visited our hospital for a health check-up between 2008 and 2015, were enrolled. After the baseline examination, they were followed up until December 2016 (median 1827 days) with the endpoint being the incident of MACE. The outcome was confirmed using a questionnaire at health check-up, medical record, telephone, or letter. Possible association between MACE and clinical test items including gender, age, waist circumference, blood pressure, kidney function, fasting plasma glucose, lipid profile, hemoglobin, electrocardiogram (ECG), smoking habit and alcohol consumption was investigated.

Results

During the follow-up period, MACE occurred in 196 subjects (3.03 per 1000 person-year), with the incidence being more frequent in male than female subjects (4.07 vs. 1.42 per 1000 person-year). Multivariate Cox-hazard analysis demonstrated that male gender (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.457, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 1.498–4.028), age (HR = 1.056, 95% CI = 1.040–1.071), waist circumference (HR = 1.023, 95% CI = 1.004–1.042), systolic blood pressure (HR = 1.015, 95% CI = 1.005–1.024), hemoglobin (HR = 0.868, 95% CI = 0.758–0.994) and Sokolow–Lyon voltage in the ECG (HR = 1.227, 95% CI = 1.033–1.458) were significant predictors for MACE. However, in a model where B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) was also added as an independent variable, BNP (HR = 2.593, 95% CI = 1.602–4.196) was the strongest predictor for MACE.

Conclusions

In participants underwent health check-up, systolic blood pressure and hemoglobin as well as age and gender were the risk factors of MACE. Appropriate control of blood pressure and treatment of anemia may be useful for the prevention of MACE. Measurement of BNP may give us additional important information associated with future MACE.

A first-principles phase field method for quantitatively predicting multi-composition phase separation without thermodynamic empirical parameter

To design tailored materials, it is highly desirable to predict microstructures of alloys without empirical parameter. Phase field models (PFMs) rely on parameters adjusted to match experimental information, while first-principles methods cannot directly treat the typical length scale of 10 μm. Combining density functional theory, cluster expansion theory and potential renormalization theory, we derive the free energy as a function of compositions and construct a parameter-free PFM, which can predict microstructures in high-temperature regions of alloy phase diagrams. Applying this method to Ni-Al alloys at 1027 °C, we succeed in reproducing evolution of microstructures as a function of only compositions without thermodynamic empirical parameter. The resulting patterns including cuboidal shaped precipitations are in excellent agreement with the experimental microstructures in each region of the Ni-Al phase diagram. Our method is in principle applicable to any kind of alloys as a reliable theoretical tool to predict microstructures of new materials.

Effect of clinical signs, endocrinopathies, timing of surgery, hyperlipidemia, and hyperbilirubinemia on outcome in dogs with gallbladder mucocele

Gallbladder mucocele (GBM) is a common extra-hepatic biliary syndrome in dogs with death rates ranging from 7 to 45%. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the association of survival with variables that could be utilized to improve clinical decisions. A total of 1194 dogs with a gross and histopathological diagnosis of GBM were included from 41 veterinary referral hospitals in this retrospective study. Dogs with GBM that demonstrated abnormal clinical signs had significantly greater odds of death than subclinical dogs in a univariable analysis (OR, 4.2; 95% CI, 2.14-8.23; P<0.001). The multivariable model indicated that categorical variables including owner recognition of jaundice (OR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.19-3.77; P=0.011), concurrent hyperadrenocorticism (OR 1.94; 95% CI, 1.08-3.47; P=0.026), and Pomeranian breed (OR, 2.46; 95% CI 1.10-5.50; P=0.029) were associated with increased odds of death, and vomiting was associated with decreased odds of death (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.30-0.72; P=0.001). Continuous variables in the multivariable model, total serum/plasma bilirubin concentration (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.04; P<0.001) and age (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.08-1.26; P<0.001), were associated with increased odds of death. The clinical utility of total serum/plasma bilirubin concentration as a biomarker to predict death was poor with a sensitivity of 0.61 (95% CI, 0.54-0.69) and a specificity of 0.63 (95% CI, 0.59-0.66). This study identified several prognostic variables in dogs with GBM including total serum/plasma bilirubin concentration, age, clinical signs, concurrent hyperadrenocorticism, and the Pomeranian breed. The presence of hypothyroidism or diabetes mellitus did not impact outcome in this study.

Development of canine X-chromosome inactivation pattern analysis for the detection of cell clonality by incorporating the examination of the SLIT and NTRK-like family member 4 (SLITRK4) gene

X-chromosome inactivation pattern (XCIP) analysis can be used to assess the clonality of cell populations of various origin by distinguishing the methylated X chromosome from the unmethylated X chromosome. In this study, the utility of XCIP analysis was improved by incorporating the examination of AC dinucleotide repeats in SLIT and NTRK-like family member 4 (SLITRK4) gene into the previously reported CAG repeat examination of androgen receptor (AR) gene in dogs. The rate of heterozygosity when both genes were analysed (125/150, 83.3%) was higher than AR gene examination alone (86/150, 57.3%). Blood samples from heterozygous dogs in either AC-1 or AC-2 of SLITRK4 gene were examined for the corrected inactivation allele ratio (CIAR), resulting in the determination of a reference range of CIAR <3.8 in non-neoplastic cell/tissue samples. Using this analytical method, 49% (21/43) of neoplastic tissue samples from dogs showed a CIAR >3.8, indicating the presence of a clonal population. Through the present study, the availability of canine XCIP analysis was improved by incorporating the examination of the SLITRK4 gene, providing a highly useful laboratory examination system for the detection of the clonality of various cell/tissue samples in dogs.

Abstract P4-01-23: Clinical significance of serum PSA in breast cancer patients

Background: Recent preclinical data suggest that estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer (BC), may switch from dependence on ER to androgen receptor (AR) as possible mechanism of resistance to ER-targeted endocrine therapy. AR dependency has also been suggested in a subset of ER-, AR+ BC. Based on these findings, clinical trials testing AR-targeting therapies in BC have been conducted. However, predictive markers for response to this type of therapies remain to be elucidated. PSA is the product of an androgen-responsive gene produced also in BC, and serum PSA (sPSA) could be detected in BC patients by a highly sensitive assay. Hypothesis:If sPSA reflects AR dependency of BC, it might be useful as a predictive marker for response to AR-targeting therapy. Methods:In this study, we investigated whether tumor-derived sPSA could be detected in BC patient, and if it might reflect tumor biology. In metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients continuously observed, sPSA was evaluated monthly by CLEIA method (detection sensitivity ≥ 3 ng/L). Similarly, sPSA was evaluated at arbitrary points in non-BC control and point analysis BC group enrolled regardless of clinicopathological factor or treatment history. In the observational group, the relationship between change in disease condition and sPSA was analyzed. Next, correlations between sPSA and various clinicopathological factors were analyzed using combined data of point analysis group and initial sPSA value of observation group. In this study, 146 BC (26 observation group and 120 point analysis group) and 99 control were enrolled. Results: In the observational analysis, 5 cases showed sPSA change well reflected the disease condition, but not in other 5 cases. In remaining 16 cases, sPSA was undetectable or the observation period was insufficient (&lt;4m). In the point analysis, sPSA was detected in 28.3% and 28.1% in control and BC respectively. Although in pre-menopausal state, there was no significant difference in sPSA between control and BC (4.4 ± 6.98 ng/L vs 3.7 ± 5.5 ng/L), in post-menopausal state, sPSA was significantly higher in BC compared with control (0.7 ± 2.5 ng/L vs 64.6 ± 357.4 ng/L; P&lt;0.05). In analysis limited to post-menopausal BC, sPSA was higher in MBC (de-novo stage 4 and recurrence) compared with non-MBC (Stage0-3) (106.0 ± 457.2 ng/L vs 2.1 ± 8.5 ng/L; P&lt;0.05). Similarly, sPSA was higher in low ki-67 (&lt;20%) cases compared with high ki-67 (≥20%) (105.7 ± 510.8 ng/L vs 30.5 ± 173.7 ng/L; p&lt;0.05). There was no significant difference in sPSA due to histological type, ER or HER2 status and nuclear grade. In correlation analysis of quantitative data limited to post-menopausal MBC, sPSA was negatively correlated with Ki-67 (rS=-0.35, p&lt;0.05) and positively correlated with treatment line of previous endocrine therapy (rS=0.27, p&lt;0.05). It did not correlate with age, disease free interval, number of metastatic organs or treatment line of previous chemotherapy. Conclusion:Our data suggest that sPSA may be tumor-derived at least in post-menopausal MBC and may reflect some kind of tumor biological properties. These all findings justify further studies of the efficacy of sPSA as a predictive marker in AR-targeted therapy.

Citation Format: Hanamura T, Ohno K, Houkibara S, Murasawa H, Nakamura T, Watanabe H, Kaizuka M, Sawano S, Koyama H, Ito K-i. Clinical significance of serum PSA in breast cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-01-23.

First principles calculations of surface dependent electronic structures: a study on β-FeOOH and γ-FeOOH

The surface dependent electronic structures of β-FeOOH and γ-FeOOH were studied using density functional calculations.

Accurate quasiparticle calculation of x-ray photoelectron spectra of solids

It has been highly desired to provide an accurate and reliable method to calculate core electron binding energies (CEBEs) of crystals and to understand the final state screening effect on a core hole in high resolution x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), because the ΔSCF method cannot be simply used for bulk systems. We propose to use the quasiparticle calculation based on many-body perturbation theory for this problem. In this study, CEBEs of band-gapped crystals, silicon, diamond, β-SiC, BN, and AlP, are investigated by means of the GW approximation (GWA) using the full ω integration and compared with the preexisting XPS data. The screening effect on a deep core hole is also investigated in detail by evaluating the relaxation energy (RE) from the core and valence contributions separately. Calculated results show that not only the valence electrons but also the core electrons have an important contribution to the RE, and the GWA have a tendency to underestimate CEBEs due to the excess RE. This underestimation can be improved by introducing the self-screening correction to the GWA. The resulting C1s, B1s, N1s, Si2p, and Al2p CEBEs are in excellent agreement with the experiments within 1 eV absolute error range. The present self-screening corrected GW approach has the capability to achieve the highly accurate prediction of CEBEs without any empirical parameter for band-gapped crystals, and provide a more reliable theoretical approach than the conventional ΔSCF-DFT method.

Weakly spin-dependent band structures of antiferromagnetic perovskite LaMO3 (M = Cr, Mn, Fe)

We investigate the spin-dependent electronic states of antiferromagnetic (AFM) lanthanum chromite (LaCrO₃), lanthanum manganite (LaMnO₃), and lanthanum ferrite (LaFeO₃) using spin-polarized first-principles density functional theory with Hubbard U correction. The band structures are calculated for 15 types of their different AFM structures. It is verified for these structures that there is a very simple rule to identify which wave number [Formula: see text] exhibits spin splitting or degeneracy in the band structure. This rule uses the symmetry operations that map the up-spin atoms onto the down-spin atoms. The resulting spin splitting is very small for the most stable spin configuration of the most stable experimental structure. We discuss a plausible benefit of this characteristic, i.e. the direction-independence of the spin current, in electrode applications.

First-principles study on the atomistic corrosion processes of iron

The corrosion of iron presents an important scientific problem and a serious economic issue. It is also one of the most important subjects in materials science because it is basically an electrochemical process and closely related to other topics such as the electrocatalysis of the oxygen reduction reaction. So far, many studies have been conducted to address the corrosion of iron, a very complicated process that occurs when iron is exposed to oxygen and water. An important question is, at which site of the iron surface the corrosion starts and how it results in the final stage of the corrosion. In the present study, as an example of superficial defects, Fe dimers sticking out of Fe(100) surfaces are considered in order to understand the iron corrosion process from first-principles using density functional theory. We found that the Fe dimers spontaneously react with O₂ and H₂O to form Fe₂(OH)₄ + 4OH^-. Here, it is interesting to note that the Fe dimer plays the role of a water splitting catalyst, because the space above it is always vacant and can accept oxygen molecules many times for reacting with the surrounding water molecules. Then, if the Fe₂(OH)₄ molecules are detached from the surface, they react with O₂ to form Fe₂O(OH)₄ without an activation barrier, and, in turn, the Fe₂O(OH)₄ and H₂O molecules react to form Fe₂(OH)₆ complexes with an activation energy of 0.653 eV. If these complexes further dissociate into Fe(OH)₃ molecules, they react with each other to form Fe₂O₃·2H₂O with an activation energy of 0.377 eV. This work may provide useful information on possible iron corrosion processes by water in the air.

Extensive first-principles molecular dynamics study on Li encapsulation into C60 and its experimental confirmation

The aim of increasing the production ratio of endohedral C₆₀ by impinging foreign atoms against C₆₀ is a crucial matter of the science and technology employed towards industrialization of these functional building block materials. Among these endohedral fullerenes, Li⁺@C₆₀ exhibits a wide variety of physical and chemical phenomena and has the potential to be applicable in areas spanning the medical field to photovoltaics. However, currently, Li⁺@C₆₀ can be experimentally produced with only ∼1% ratio using the plasma shower method with a 30 eV kinetic energy provided to the impinging Li⁺ ion. From extensive first-principles molecular dynamics simulations, it is found that the maximum production ratio of Li⁺@C₆₀ per hit is increased to about 5.1% (5.3%) when a Li⁺ ion impinges vertically on a six-membered ring of C₆₀ with 30 eV (40 eV) kinetic energy, although many C₆₀ molecules are damaged during this collision. On the contrary, when it impinges vertically on a six-membered ring with 10 eV kinetic energy, the production ratio remains at 1.3%, but the C₆₀ molecules are not damaged at all. On the other hand, when the C₆₀ is randomly oriented, the production ratio reduces to about 3.7 ± 0.5%, 3.3 ± 0.5%, and 0.2 ± 0.03% for 30 eV, 40 eV, and 10 eV kinetic energy, respectively. Based on these observations we demonstrate the possibility of increasing the production ratio by fixing six-membered rings atop C₆₀ using the Cu(111) substrate or UV light irradiation. In order to assess the ideal experimental production ratio, the ⁷Li solid NMR spectroscopy measurement is also performed for the multilayer randomly oriented C₆₀ sample irradiated by Li⁺ using the plasma shower method combined with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Time-of-flight mass spectroscopy measurements are also performed to cross check whether Li⁺@C₆₀ molecules are produced in the sample. The resulting experimental estimate, 4% for 30 eV incident kinetic energy, fully agrees with our simulation results mentioned above, suggesting the consistency and accuracy of our simulations and experiments.

Ovarian aromatase loss-of-function mutant medaka undergo ovary degeneration and partial female-to-male sex reversal after puberty

Although estrogens have been generally considered to play a critical role in ovarian differentiation in non-mammalian vertebrates, the specific functions of estrogens during ovarian differentiation remain unclear. We isolated two mutants with premature stops in the ovarian aromatase (cyp19a1) gene from an N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea-based gene-driven mutagenesis library of the medaka, Oryzias latipes. In XX mutants, gonads first differentiated into normal ovaries containing many ovarian follicles that failed to accumulate yolk. Subsequently, ovarian tissues underwent extensive degeneration, followed by the appearance of testicular tissues on the dorsal side of ovaries. In the newly formed testicular tissue, strong expression of gsdf was detected in sox9a2-positive somatic cells surrounding germline stem cells suggesting that gsdf plays an important role in testicular differentiation during estrogen-depleted female-to-male sex reversal. We conclude that endogenous estrogens synthesized after fertilization are not essential for early ovarian differentiation but are critical for the maintenance of adult ovaries.

Induction of Diabetes Abolishes the Antithrombotic Effect of Clopidogrel in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice

Patients with acute coronary syndrome with diabetes mellitus (DM) exhibit an impaired platelet inhibitory response to clopidogrel which is only partially understood. DM was induced by the administration of streptozotocin (STZ) to 9-week-old mice. The antithrombotic effects of clopidogrel (10 mg/kg/d, orally × 5 days) were determined using a FeCl ₃ -induced thrombosis model employing wild-type (WT), apolipoprotein E (apoE)-deficient, and diabetic apoE-deficient mice at 21 weeks. Antiplatelet effects were determined using flow cytometry. The antithrombotic effects of clopidogrel were similar in WT and apoE-deficient mice but were attenuated in diabetic apoE-deficient mice with the percent inhibition of thrombus area (µm ² ) by clopidogrel being 85.5% (WT mice), 75.0% (apoE-deficient mice), and 1.9% (diabetic apoE-deficient mice). The time to first occlusion and lumen stenosis also reflected a significant loss of the antithrombotic effects of clopidogrel in diabetic apoE-deficient mice. Ex vivo platelet activation, which was assessed using ADP-induced expression of activated glycoprotein IIb/IIIa, was completely inhibited by clopidogrel in these three groups of mice. In contrast, the effect of clopidogrel on the ex vivo expression of platelet P-selectin induced by protease-activated receptor 4–activating peptide was diminished in diabetic apoE-deficient mice compared with that in WT and apoE-deficient mice. These data suggest that diabetic apoE-deficient mice may serve as a useful model to better understand the impaired responses to clopidogrel in patients with DM, which may partially reflect a reduction of the effect of clopidogrel on thrombin-induced platelet activation.

Endoscopic Cytology for the Diagnosis of Chronic Enteritis and Intestinal Lymphoma in Dogs

Although cytology is a rapid diagnostic procedure in dogs, the cytologic criteria of endoscopic biopsies for chronic enteritis and intestinal lymphoma are not well defined. An immediate diagnosis using cytology would benefit patients by enabling prompt initiation of therapy. The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between the results of endoscopic cytology and histopathology. In this study, 167 dogs with clinical signs of chronic gastrointestinal disease were included. On the basis of histopathology, the following diagnoses were determined: lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis in 93 dogs; eosinophilic enteritis in 5 dogs; small cell intestinal lymphoma in 45 dogs; and large cell intestinal lymphoma in 24 dogs. Two clinical pathologists retrospectively evaluated the endoscopic cytology of squash-smear preparations. The cytologic diagnoses of inflammation, small cell lymphoma, and large cell lymphoma were based on the severity of lymphocyte infiltration, the size of infiltrated lymphocytes, and eosinophil/mast cell infiltration. The clinical severity score was significantly increased along with the degree of lymphocyte infiltration evaluated by cytology. The cytologic diagnosis was in complete agreement with the histopathologic diagnosis in 136 of 167 (81.4%) cases. For the differentiation between enteritis and lymphoma, endoscopic cytology had a sensitivity of 98.6%, a specificity of 73.5%, a positive predictive value of 72.3%, and a negative predictive value of 98.6%. The log-rank test and Cox regression analysis showed that the results of cytology predicted the prognosis. These results suggest that endoscopic cytology is a useful technique to aid diagnosis of intestinal inflammation and lymphoma in dogs.

A simple derivation of the exact quasiparticle theory and its extension to arbitrary initial excited eigenstates

The quasiparticle (QP) energies, which are minus of the energies required by removing or produced by adding one electron from/to the system, corresponding to the photoemission or inverse photoemission (PE/IPE) spectra, are determined together with the QP wave functions, which are not orthonormal and even not linearly independent but somewhat similar to the normal spin orbitals in the theory of the configuration interaction, by self-consistently solving the QP equation coupled with the equation for the self-energy. The electron density, kinetic, and all interaction energies can be calculated using the QP wave functions. We prove in a simple way that the PE/IPE spectroscopy and therefore this QP theory can be applied to an arbitrary initial excited eigenstate. In this proof, we show that the energy-dependence of the self-energy is not an essential difficulty, and the QP picture holds exactly if there is no relaxation mechanism in the system. The validity of the present theory for some initial excited eigenstates is tested using the one-shot GW approximation for several atoms and molecules.

Analysis of serum corticosteroid-induced alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme in dogs with hepatobiliary diseases

OBJECTIVE

To reveal the relationship between canine corticosteroid-induced alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme activity and hepatobiliary diseases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective analysis of the relationship between serum corticosteroid-induced alkaline phosphatase activity and diagnosis, serum cortisol concentration and alanine transferase activity in dogs with hepatobiliary diseases. Dogs with a history of glucocorticoid administration were excluded.

RESULTS

Seventy-two dogs with hepatobiliary diseases were analysed. The serum corticosteroid-induced alkaline phosphatase concentration was increased in dogs with hepatobiliary diseases. There was no correlation between serum cortisol concentration and serum corticosteroid-induced alkaline phosphatase percentage or activity.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Dogs with hepatobiliary disease can exhibit high serum alkaline phosphatase activity even if the dogs have not been administrated glucocorticoids and the serum cortisol concentration is normal.

Genetic and epigenetic aberrations of p16 in feline primary neoplastic diseases and tumor cell lines of lymphoid and non-lymphoid origins

The p16 gene acts as a tumor suppressor by regulating the cell cycle and is frequently inactivated in human and canine cancers. The aim of this study was to characterize genetic and epigenetic alterations of the p16 in feline lymphoid and non-lymphoid malignancies, using 74 primary tumors and 11 tumor cell lines. Cloning of feline p16 and subsequent sequence analysis revealed 11 germline sequence polymorphisms in control cats. Bisulfite sequencing analysis of the p16 promoter region in a feline lymphoma cell line revealed that promoter methylation was associated with decreased mRNA expression. Treatment with a demethylating agent restored mRNA expression of the silenced p16. PCR amplification and sequencing analysis detected homozygous loss (five tumors, 6.7%) and a missense mutation (one tumor, 1.4%) in the 74 primary tumors analyzed. Methylation-specific PCR analysis revealed promoter methylation in 10 primary tumors (14%). Promoter methylation was frequent in B cell lymphoid tumors (7/21 tumors, 33%). These genetic and epigenetic alterations were also observed in lymphoma and mammary gland carcinoma cell lines, but not detected in non-neoplastic control specimens. These data indicate that molecular alterations of the p16 locus may be involved in the development of specific types of feline cancer, and warrant further studies to evaluate the clinical value of this evolutionarily-conserved molecular alteration in feline cancers.

Spontaneous Pneumothorax Caused by Metastatic Hemangioendothelioma

A patient with hemangioendothelioma is described, who developed a metastatic pulmonary nodule, subsequently a bullous lesion contiguous to the nodule, and finally spontaneous pneumothorax. In such cases, newly formed bullous lesions may conceal originally visible metastatic foci and can be a potential source of spontaneous pneumothorax.

Relationship between cap structure and energy gap in capped carbon nanotubes

Revealing a universal relation between geometrical structures and electronic properties of capped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is one of the current objectives in nanocarbon community. Here, we investigate the local curvature of capped CNTs and define the cap region by a crossover behavior of the curvature energy versus the number of carbon atoms integrated from the tip to the tube region. Clear correlations among the energy gap of the cap localized states, the curvature energy, the number of carbon atoms in the cap region, and the number of specific carbon clusters are observed. The present analysis opens the way to understand the cap states.

Characterization of SPATA5-related encephalopathy in early childhood

Mutations in SPATA5 have recently been shown to result in a phenotype of microcephaly, intellectual disability, seizures, and hearing loss in childhood. Our aim in this report is to delineate the SPATA5 syndrome as a clinical entity, including the facial appearance, neurophysiological, and neuroimaging findings. Using whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing, we identified three children with SPATA5 mutations from two families. Two siblings carried compound heterozygous mutations, c.989_991del (p.Thr330del) and c.2130_2133del (p.Glu711Profs*21), and the third child had c.967T>A (p.Phe323Ile) and c.2146G>C (p.Ala716Pro) mutations. The three patients manifested microcephaly, psychomotor retardation, hypotonus or hypertonus, and bilateral hearing loss from early infancy. Common facies were a depressed nasal bridge/ridge, broad eyebrows, and retrognathia. Epileptic spasms or tonic seizures emerged at 6-12 months of age. Interictal electroencephalography showed multifocal spikes and bursts of asynchronous diffuse spike-wave complexes. Augmented amplitudes of visually evoked potentials were detected in two patients. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed hypomyelination, thin corpus callosum, and progressive cerebral atrophy. Blood copper levels were also elevated or close to the upper normal levels in these children. Clinical delineation of the SPATA5-related encephalopathy should improve diagnosis, facilitating further clinical and molecular investigation.