Atrimonas thermophila gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel anaerobic thermophilic bacterium of the phylum Atribacterota isolated from deep subsurface gas field and proposal of Atrimonadaceae fam. nov. within the class Atribacteria in the phylum Atribacterota.

A novel anaerobic, thermophilic bacterium of the class Atribacteria, strain M15T, was isolated from a high-temperature gas reservoir, Japan. Cells of strain M15T were gram-negative, short oval-shaped, and lacked flagella. Growth occurred at 45-75 °C (optimum 70-75 °C) and pH 6.5-8.5 (optimum pH 7.5-8.0) and was fast under optimal conditions (doubling time 11.4 h). Yeast extract was required for growth. Fermentative growth with glucose, arabinose, xylose, and cellobiose was observed. The major fermentative end products of glucose were acetate and hydrogen. The major cellular fatty acids were C16:0, iso-C15:0, and C18:0. The genomic G + C content was 46.0 mol%. Fluorescence and electron microscopy observations revealed the intracellular localization of genomic DNA surrounded by a membrane in the cells of strain M15T as reported in a sole validly described species of the class Atribacteria in the phylum Atribacterota, Atribacter laminatus strain RT761T, suggesting that the unique morphological traits are widely shared in this class. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that strain M15T belongs to a distinct family-level lineage in the class Atribacteria and shows low similarities to Atribacter laminatus strain RT761T (16S rRNA gene sequence identity of 90.1 %, average nucleotide identity [ANI] of 66.1 %, average amino acid identity [AAI] of 55.8 %). Phenotypic traits of strain M15T (thermophilic, fast-growing, relatively high G + C content, etc.) were clearly distinct from A. laminatus. Based on these phenotypic and genomic properties, we propose a novel genus and species, Atrimonas thermophila gen. nov., sp. nov. for strain M15T (=JCM39389T, =KCTC25731T) representing a novel family Atrimonadaceae fam., nov. in the class Atribacteria.

A pilot study on interobserver variability in organ-at-risk contours in magnetic resonance imaging-guided online adaptive radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer.

Purpose: Differences in the contours created during magnetic resonance imaging-guided online adaptive radiotherapy (MRgOART) affect dose distribution. This study evaluated the interobserver error in delineating the organs at risk (OARs) in patients with pancreatic cancer treated with MRgOART. Moreover, we explored the effectiveness of drugs that could suppress peristalsis in restraining intra-fractional motion by evaluating OAR visualization in multiple patients. Methods: This study enrolled three patients who underwent MRgOART for pancreatic cancer. The study cohort was classified into three conditions based on the MRI sequence and butylscopolamine administration (Buscopan): 1, T2 imaging without butylscopolamine administration; 2, T2 imaging with butylscopolamine administration; and 3, multi-contrast imaging with butylscopolamine administration. Four blinded observers visualized the OARs (stomach, duodenum, small intestine, and large intestine) on MR images acquired during the initial and final MRgOART sessions. The contour was delineated on a slice area of ±2 cm surrounding the planning target volume. The dice similarity coefficient (DSC) was used to evaluate the contour. Moreover, the OARs were visualized on both MR images acquired before and after the contour delineation process during MRgOART to evaluate whether peristalsis could be suppressed. The DSC was calculated for each OAR. Results: Interobserver errors in the OARs (stomach, duodenum, small intestine, large intestine) for the three conditions were 0.636, 0.418, 0.676, and 0.806; 0.725, 0.635, 0.762, and 0.821; and 0.841, 0.677, 0.762, and 0.807, respectively. The DSC was higher in all conditions with butylscopolamine administration compared with those without it, except for the stomach in condition 2, as observed in the last session of MR image. The DSCs for OARs (stomach, duodenum, small intestine, large intestine) extracted before and after contouring were 0.86, 0.78, 0.88, and 0.87; 0.97, 0.94, 0.90, and 0.94; and 0.94, 0.86, 0.89, and 0.91 for conditions 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Conclusion: Butylscopolamine effectively reduced interobserver error and intra-fractional motion during the MRgOART treatment.

Early establishment of chloride homeostasis in CRH neurons is altered by prenatal stress leading to fetal HPA axis dysregulation.

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons play an important role in the regulation of neuroendocrine responses to stress. The excitability of CRH neurons is regulated by inhibitory GABAergic inputs. However, it is unclear when GABAergic regulation of CRH neurons is established during fetal brain development. Furthermore, the exact progression of the developmental shift of GABA action from depolarization to hyperpolarization remains unelucidated. Considering the importance of CRH neuron function in subsequent hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulation during this critical phase of development, we investigated the ontogeny of GABAergic inputs to CRH neurons and consequent development of chloride homeostasis. Both CRH neuron soma in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and axons projecting to the median eminence could be identified at embryonic day 15 (E15). Using acute slices containing the PVN of CRF-VenusΔNeo mice, gramicidin perforated-patch clamp-recordings of CRH neurons at E15, postnatal day 0 (P0), and P7 were performed to evaluate the developmental shift of GABA action. The equilibrium potential of GABA (EGABA) was similar between E15 and P0 and showed a further hyperpolarizing shift between P0 and P7 that was comparable to EGABA values in adult CRH neurons. GABA primarily acted as an inhibitory signal at E15 and KCC2 expression was detected in CRH neurons at this age. Activation of the HPA axis has been proposed as the primary mechanism through which prenatal maternal stress shapes fetal development and subsequent long-term disease risk. We therefore examined the impact of maternal food restriction stress on the development of chloride homeostasis in CRH neurons. We observed a depolarization shift of EGABA in CRH neurons of pups exposed to maternal food restriction stress. These results suggest that Cl- homeostasis in early developmental CRH neurons attains mature intracellular Cl- levels, GABA acts primarily as inhibitory, and CRH neurons mature and function early compared with neurons in other brain regions, such as the cortex and hippocampus. Maternal food restriction stress alters chloride homeostasis in CRH neurons of pups, reducing their inhibitory control by GABA. This may contribute to increased CRH neuron activity and cause activation of the HPA axis in pups.

Hands-on-training tailored in response to pre-questionnaire-based survey on image-guided brachytherapy effectively reduces anxiety about its implementation.

This study assessed the significance of hands-on-training (HoT) and questionnaire-based surveys on 3D image-guided brachytherapy (3D-IGBT) and a combination of intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy, the so-called 'hybrid' BT (HBT), in uterine cervical cancer. In October 2023, 29 radiation oncologists, nurses, radiologic technologists and medical physicists from 10 Japanese facilities participated in an HoT on 3D-IGBT and HBT. Questionnaires were distributed to each participant before and after the HoT, and feedback was obtained through online channels. The questionnaire response rate was 83% (24/29), with at least one participant responding from each facility. 'Insertion of applicators and needles', 'human resource shortage' and 'pain relief and sedation' were the primary concerns of radiation oncologists. 'Applicator reconstruction', ' optimization of dwell positions', ' treatment planning' and ' human resource shortages ' were the primary concerns of radiological technologists and medical physicists. The HoT content was adjusted according to the results of preliminary surveys. The concerns expressed by the participants were addressed during the lectures and practical training. Significant reductions in anxiety were observed toward all items of the 10-point self-assessment after the HoT, regardless of the profession. The average score on satisfaction with the HoT (on a 10-point scale) was 9.52 (minimum of 8 and maximum of 10). In conclusion, HoT tailored in response to a pre-questionnaire-based survey effectively reduced participants' anxiety regarding the implementation of 3D-IGBT and HBT.

Vulnerability to APOBEC3G linked to the pathogenicity of deltaretroviruses.

Human retroviruses are derived from simian ones through cross-species transmission. These retroviruses are associated with little pathogenicity in their natural hosts, but in humans, HIV causes AIDS, and human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) induces adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATL). We analyzed the proviral sequences of HTLV-1, HTLV-2, and simian T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (STLV-1) from Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) and found that APOBEC3G (A3G) frequently generates G-to-A mutations in the HTLV-1 provirus, whereas such mutations are rare in the HTLV-2 and STLV-1 proviruses. Therefore, we investigated the mechanism of how HTLV-2 is resistant to human A3G (hA3G). HTLV-1, HTLV-2, and STLV-1 encode the so-called antisense proteins, HTLV-1 bZIP factor (HBZ), Antisense protein of HTLV-2 (APH-2), and STLV-1 bZIP factor (SBZ), respectively. APH-2 efficiently inhibits the deaminase activity of both hA3G and simian A3G (sA3G). HBZ and SBZ strongly suppress sA3G activity but only weakly inhibit hA3G, suggesting that HTLV-1 is incompletely adapted to humans. Unexpectedly, hA3G augments the activation of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß/Smad pathway by HBZ, and this activation is associated with ATL cell proliferation by up-regulating BATF3/IRF4 and MYC. In contrast, the combination of APH-2 and hA3G, or the combination of SBZ and sA3G, does not enhance the TGF-ß/Smad pathway. Thus, HTLV-1 is vulnerable to hA3G but utilizes it to promote the proliferation of infected cells via the activation of the TGF-ß/Smad pathway. Antisense factors in each virus, differently adapted to control host cellular functions through A3G, seem to dictate the pathogenesis.

Balloon dilatation for congenital esophageal stenosis associated with esophageal atresia.

PURPOSE: Congenital esophageal stenosis (CES) associated with esophageal atresia (EA) is rare, and no standard treatment has been established. We reviewed cases of EA-associated CES to assess the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes, especially the feasibility of endoscopic dilatation. METHODS: We retrospectively examined patients with EA-associated CES. We also compared treatment outcomes of EA-associated CES with those of EA patients without CES who developed postoperative anastomotic stricture. RESULTS: Among 44 patients with EA, ten had CES (23%). Postoperative complications were not significantly different between EA patients with CES and those without CES but with anastomotic stricture. All CES patients underwent balloon dilatation as initial treatment. Eight of nine patients (89%) were successfully treated by dilatation only, and one patient underwent surgical resection. The median number of balloon dilatations for CES was five (2-17), which was higher than that for anastomotic stricture in patients without CES (p = 0.012). Esophageal perforation occurred in five patients with CES (5/9, 56%) after dilatation, but all perforations were successfully managed conservatively with an uneventful post-dilatation course. CONCLUSIONS: Twenty-three percent of patients with EA had CES. Although balloon dilatation for EA-associated CES required multiple treatments and carried a risk of perforation, balloon dilatation showed an 89% success rate and all perforations could be managed conservatively.

Clinical Implications of Serum Mac-2 Binding Protein in Patients After Living Donor Liver Transplantation for Biliary Atresia.

BACKGROUND: Patients who undergo pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) sometimes develop graft fibrosis. Recently, Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation-modified isomer (M2BPGi) was developed as a new marker of hepatic fibrosis progression. We performed this study to examine the relationship between serum M2BPGi levels and liver histologic findings in patients after LDLT for biliary atresia. METHODS: Patients aged <19 years who underwent LDLT for biliary atresia at our institution and followed up for at least 1 year after LDLT were eligible. There were 56 patients in this study. Pathologic findings of the last available biopsy were assessed. Portal vein (PV) stenosis was confirmed with angiography. M2BPGi levels were compared with pathologic fibrosis scores and PV stenosis findings. RESULTS: The mean age at transplant was 4.3 years. The mean observation period was 8.6 years. In terms of the degree of liver fibrosis, F0 was observed in 7 patients, F1 in 36, and F2 in 13. The median serum M2BPGi value was 0.8 cut-off index (COI) overall and 0.60 COI for F0, 0.74 COI for F1, and 1.07 COI for F2. The mean M2BPGi value in F2 was higher than that in F0 (P = .016) and F1 (P = .012). Mean serum M2BPGi values were 1.57 COI (0.29 COI) in patients with PV complications (n = 5) and 0.72 COI in patients without PV complications (n = 51) (P = .0001). CONCLUSION: M2BPGi is a novel marker for liver fibrosis in patients after pediatric LDLT. It is especially useful for follow-up of pediatric patients after LDLT to support liver biopsy interpretation.

Impact of Total Parenteral Nutrition on Preoperative Management of Pediatric Living-Donor Liver Transplantation for Biliary Atresia Under 2 Years Old.

BACKGROUND: Liver failure and gastrointestinal bleeding occur in the end-stage of biliary atresia (BA). Living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is a standard treatment in Japan. Our program actively provides pre-transplant total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for such patients, and here we report its efficiency and safety. METHODS: Patients with BA for whom LDLT was indicated were identified. Those with a long-term external central venous catheter and TPN, longer than 4 weeks before LDLT, were analyzed. Ascites was controlled with diuretics. TPN indications, efficacy, and complications were assessed along with patient growth, biochemical markers, and gastrointestinal bleeding. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were included in the study, of whom 8 were girls and 6 were boys. The median age at LDLT was 0.9 years. Body weight (BW) at TPN initiation averaged 6799 g, and the median serum total bilirubin was 9.5 mg per dL. The median catheterization duration was 54 days, and 1 patient received home TPN. Indications for TPN were gastrointestinal bleeding and/or massive esophageal varices in 4 patients and poor nutritional status in 10 patients. No complications were observed except for 1 catheter infection and 1 catheter occlusion. The median final body weight before LDLT was 7906 g. The mean rate of BW gain was significantly higher after TPN than before (149 vs 32 g/wk, respectively, P = .0002). Mean prothrombin time and levels of albumin, cholinesterase, and total bilirubin were not significantly different at the start and end of TPN. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-transplant TPN was safe and effective for patients with end-stage BA.

Plasma Concentration of Antifungal Agent Micafungin for Pediatric Living Donor Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) candidates often receive long-term antibiotic treatment. Micafungin has been used as an antifungal agent after LDLT, but the adequate dose after pediatric LDLT was unknown. Here, we report micafungin blood concentrations after pediatric LDLT and discuss its safety and adequate dosing. METHODS: Pediatric patients with data on micafungin concentrations after LDLT were identified. Those with surgical complications were excluded. All patients received standard tacrolimus-based immunosuppression. A micafungin dose of 1 mg/kg was administered once daily for 10 days starting on postoperative day (POD) 1. The trough and peak micafungin blood concentrations were evaluated on PODs 1, 4, 7, and 10. Beta D glucan levels and liver function tests were assessed to determine micafungin effectiveness and safety. RESULTS: Ten patients were enrolled, with a median age of 1.2 years. The median graft vs body weight ratio was 2.7%. The primary diseases were biliary atresia (n = 7), Alagille syndrome (n = 2), and progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 2 (n = 1). Mean peak micafungin levels were 4.47, 6.27, 5.47, and 5.47 µg/mL on PODs 1, 4, 7, and 10, respectively. Mean trough levels were 2.03, 1.88, and 2.66 µg/mL on PODs 4, 7, and 10, respectively. The micafungin half-lives were 13.7, 14.7, and 14.0 hours on PODs 4, 7, and 10, respectively. Beta D glucan levels were 4.4 pg/mL and 3.7 pg/mL before and after transplantation, respectively, indicating no significant difference (P = .3). No clinical fungal infections were observed. CONCLUSION: Micafungin administration is safe and effective after pediatric LDLT.

Potential risks associated with laparoscopic gastrostomy in patients with the COL4A1 variant: Two case reports.

The COL4A1 (collagen Type 4 alpha1) pathogenic variant is associated with porencephaly and schizencephaly and accounts for approximately 20% of these patients. This gene variant leads to systemic microvasculopathy, which manifests as brain, ocular, renal, and muscular disorders. However, only a few patients with surgical interventions have been reported and the potential surgical risks are unknown. Here, we present the cases of two female patients between 7 and 8 years of age who were diagnosed with the COL4A1 variant and underwent laparoscopy-assisted percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (LAPEG) for oral dysphagia. Their primary brain lesions were caused by porencephaly and paralysis, which are caused by multiple cerebral hemorrhages and infarctions, and both patients had refractory epileptic complications. Although LAPEG was successfully performed in both patients without any intraoperative complications, one patient developed alveolar hemorrhage postoperatively and required mechanical ventilation. Thus, careful perioperative management of patients with the COL4A1 variant is important.

Patterns of care for brachytherapy in Japan.

This study aimed to assess the current state of brachytherapy (BT) resources, practices and resident education in Japan. A nationwide survey was undertaken encompassing 177 establishments facilitating BT in 2022. Questionnaires were disseminated to each BT center, and feedback through online channels or postal correspondence was obtained. The questionnaire response rate was 90% (159/177), and every prefecture had a response in at least one center. The number of centers in each prefecture ranged from 0.6 to 3.6 (median: 1.3) per million population. The annual number of patients in each center ranged from 0 to 272 (median: 31). While most prefectures provided intracavitary (IC) BT for gynecological cancers and interstitial (IS) BT for prostate cancer, only one-third of the prefectures provided IS BT for cancer sites other than the prostate. The institutional image-guided BT implementation rate was 71%. IC and IS BT was performed for 15.4% of IC BT cases of gynecological cancer. Only 47% of the BT training centers answered that they could provide adequate training in BT for residents. The most common reason for this finding was the insufficient number of patients in each center. The results show that, although BT has achieved uniformity in terms of facility penetration, new technologies are not yet widespread enough. Furthermore, IS BT, which requires advanced skills, is limited to a few BT centers, and considerable number of BT training centers do not have sufficient caseloads to provide the necessary experience for their residents.

Astrocytic NKCC1 inhibits seizures by buffering Cl- and antagonizing neuronal NKCC1 at GABAergic synapses.

OBJECTIVE: A pathological excitatory action of the major inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been observed in epilepsy. Blocking the Cl- importer NKCC1 with bumetanide is expected to reduce the neuronal intracellular Cl- concentration ([Cl- ]i ) and thereby attenuate the excitatory GABA response. Accordingly, several clinical trials of bumetanide for epilepsy were conducted. Although NKCC1 is expressed in both neurons and glial cells, an involvement of glial NKCC1 in seizures has not yet been reported. Astrocytes maintain high [Cl- ]i with NKCC1, and this gradient promotes Cl- efflux via the astrocytic GABAA receptor (GABAA R). This Cl- efflux buffers the synaptic cleft Cl- concentration to maintain the postsynaptic Cl- gradient during intense firing of GABAergic neurons, thereby sustaining its inhibitory action during seizure. In this study, we investigated the function of astrocytic NKCC1 in modulating the postsynaptic action of GABA in acute seizure models. METHODS: We used the astrocyte-specific conditional NKCC1 knockout (AstroNKCC1KO) mice. The seizurelike events (SLEs) in CA1 pyramidal neurons were triggered by tetanic stimulation of stratum radiatum in acute hippocampus slices. The SLE underlying GABAA R-mediated depolarization was evaluated by applying the GABAA R antagonist bicuculline. The pilocarpine-induced seizure in vivo was monitored in adult mice by the Racine scale. The SLE duration and tetanus stimulation intensity threshold and seizure behavior in AstroNKCC1KO mice and wild-type (WT) mice were compared. RESULTS: The AstroNKCC1KO mice were prone to seizures with lower threshold and longer duration of SLEs and larger GABAA R-mediated depolarization underlying the SLEs, accompanied by higher Racine-scored seizures. Bumetanide reduced these indicators of seizure in AstroNKCC1KO mice (which still express neuronal NKCC1), but not in the WT, both in vitro and in vivo. SIGNIFICANCE: Astrocytic NKCC1 inhibits GABA-mediated excitatory action during seizures, whereas neuronal NKCC1 has the converse effect, suggesting opposing actions of bumetanide on these cells.

Factors associated with quality of life in patients receiving palliative radiotherapy for bone metastases: a secondary cross-sectional analysis of data from a prospective multicenter observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors significantly associated with quality of life (QOL) and determine if these associations are strong enough to predict certain aspects of QOL without measuring them. METHODS: We conducted an exploratory secondary analysis of baseline data of 224 patients (enrolled between December 2020 and March 2021) from a previously published prospective observational study on radiotherapy for bone metastases at 26 centres. Using univariable linear regression, we assessed the association between patient/treatment factors and QOL scale scores as measured by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QOL Questionnaire Core 15-Palliative (QLQ-C15-PAL) and the EORTC QOL Questionnaire Bone Metastases module (QLQ-BM22). RESULTS: Age and sex were not significantly associated with QOL. Worse performance status, higher pain scores, and opioid and single-fraction use were significantly associated with most QOL scales; these four factors were associated with worse global QOL, worse functioning status, and more severe symptoms. The coefficients of determination for most QOL scales were less than 0.2, indicating that most of the variability in QOL scores was not explained by any of the explanatory variables. CONCLUSION: Performance status, pain intensity, and opioid and single-fraction use were significantly associated with most QOL scales. However, the associations were not strong enough to estimate QOL. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: To date, the association between treatment factors and QOL in patients with bone metastases has not been fully studied. We identified the factors that were significantly associated with QOL and found that these associations were not strong enough to predict QOL.

HTLV-1 bZIP Factor-Induced Reprogramming of Lactate Metabolism and Epigenetic Status Promote Leukemic Cell Expansion.

Acceleration of glycolysis is a common trait of cancer. A key metabolite, lactate, is typically secreted from cancer cells because its accumulation is toxic. Here, we report that a viral oncogene, HTLV-1 bZIP factor (HBZ), bimodally upregulates TAp73 to promote lactate excretion from adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATL) cells. HBZ protein binds to EZH2 and reduces its occupancy of the TAp73 promoter. Meanwhile, HBZ RNA activates TAp73 transcription via the BATF3-IRF4 machinery. TAp73 upregulates the lactate transporters MCT1 and MCT4. Inactivation of TAp73 leads to intracellular accumulation of lactate, inducing cell death in ATL cells. Furthermore, TAp73 knockout diminishes the development of inflammation in HBZ-transgenic mice. An MCT1/4 inhibitor, syrosingopine, decreases the growth of ATL cells in vitro and in vivo. MCT1/4 expression is positively correlated with TAp73 in many cancers, and MCT1/4 upregulation is associated with dismal prognosis. Activation of the TAp73-MCT1/4 pathway could be a common mechanism contributing to cancer metabolism. SIGNIFICANCE: An antisense gene encoded in HTLV-1, HBZ, reprograms lactate metabolism and epigenetic modification by inducing TAp73 in virus-positive leukemic cells. A positive correlation between TAp73 and its target genes is also observed in many other cancer cells, suggesting that this is a common mechanism for cellular oncogenesis. This article is featured in Selected Articles from This Issue, p. 337.

Tubulin Polyglutamylation by TTLL1 and TTLL7 Regulate Glutamate Concentration in the Mice Brain.

As an important neurotransmitter, glutamate acts in over 90% of excitatory synapses in the human brain. Its metabolic pathway is complicated, and the glutamate pool in neurons has not been fully elucidated. Tubulin polyglutamylation in the brain is mainly mediated by two tubulin tyrosine ligase-like (TTLL) proteins, TTLL1 and TTLL7, which have been indicated to be important for neuronal polarity. In this study, we constructed pure lines of Ttll1 and Ttll7 knockout mice. Ttll knockout mice showed several abnormal behaviors. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) Imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) analyses of these brains showed increases in glutamate, suggesting that tubulin polyglutamylation by these TTLLs acts as a pool of glutamate in neurons and modulates some other amino acids related to glutamate.

Imbalanced expression of cation-chloride cotransporters as a potential therapeutic target in an Angelman syndrome mouse model.

Angelman syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by loss of function of the maternally expressed UBE3A gene. Treatments for the main manifestations, including cognitive dysfunction or epilepsy, are still under development. Recently, the Cl- importer Na+-K+-Cl- cotransporter 1 (NKCC1) and the Cl- exporter K+-Cl- cotransporter 2 (KCC2) have garnered attention as therapeutic targets for many neurological disorders. Dysregulation of neuronal intracellular Cl- concentration ([Cl-]i) is generally regarded as one of the mechanisms underlying neuronal dysfunction caused by imbalanced expression of these cation-chloride cotransporters (CCCs). Here, we analyzed the regulation of [Cl-]i and the effects of bumetanide, an NKCC1 inhibitor, in Angelman syndrome models (Ube3am-/p+ mice). We observed increased NKCC1 expression and decreased KCC2 expression in the hippocampi of Ube3am-/p+ mice. The average [Cl-]i of CA1 pyramidal neurons was not significantly different but demonstrated greater variance in Ube3am-/p+ mice. Tonic GABAA receptor-mediated Cl- conductance was reduced, which may have contributed to maintaining the normal average [Cl-]i. Bumetanide administration restores cognitive dysfunction in Ube3am-/p+ mice. Seizure susceptibility was also reduced regardless of the genotype. These results suggest that an imbalanced expression of CCCs is involved in the pathophysiological mechanism of Ube3am-/p+ mice, although the average [Cl-]i is not altered. The blockage of NKCC1 may be a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with Angelman syndrome.

Liver-Spleen Volume Ratio as a Predictor of Native Liver Survival in Patients with Biliary Atresia.

BACKGROUND: The appropriate timing of liver transplantation (LT) in patients with biliary atresia (BA) who survived with their native livers until adolescence remains controversial. The liver-spleen volume ratio (LSR) has been reported to be efficacious in predicting the prognosis of chronic liver disease. We investigated whether LSR could predict long-term native liver prognosis and serve as an indication for LT in patients with BA. METHODS: Patients with BA who survived with their native liver until the age of 15 years were included. These patients were classified into 2 groups. The unfavorable prognosis group included patients who underwent or were awaiting LT or developed complications such as refractory cholangitis or gastrointestinal bleeding due to esophagogastric or intestinal varices. The favorable prognosis group included patients who survived with their native liver without complications. We compared the 2 groups regarding LSR, hematological, and histologic data. RESULTS: Of 19 patients, 8 were in the unfavorable prognosis group, and 11 were in the favorable prognosis group. LSR was significantly lower in the unfavorable prognosis group (P = .009). Analysis of the receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the area under the curve of the LSR was 0.891, which was higher than the area under the curve of liver fibrosis markers. The optimal LSR cut-off value for predicting poor native liver prognosis was 1.97, with a sensitivity of 75.0% and a specificity of 87.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The LSR reflects splenomegaly and liver atrophy. The LSR might be a reliable predictor of native liver prognosis and could guide decisions about LT in patients with BA.

Income and Employment of Patients at the Start of and During Follow-up After Palliative Radiation Therapy for Bone Metastasis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to understand the income and employment status of patients at the start of and during follow-up after palliative radiation therapy for bone metastasis. Methods and Materials: From December 2020 to March 2021, a prospective multi-institutional observational study was conducted to investigate income and employment of patients at the start of administration of radiation therapy for bone metastasis and at 2 and 6 months after treatment. Of 333 patients referred to radiation therapy for bone metastasis, 101 were not registered, mainly because of their poor general condition, and another 8 were excluded from the follow-up analysis owing to ineligibility. Results: In 224 patients analyzed, 108 had retired for reasons unrelated to cancer, 43 had retired for reasons related to cancer, 31 were taking leave, and 2 had lost their jobs at the time of registration. The number of patients who were in the working group was 40 (30 with no change in income and 10 with decreased income) at registration, 35 at 2 months, and 24 at 6 months. Younger patients (P = 0), patients with better performance status (P = 0), patients who were ambulatory (P = .008), and patients with lower scores on a numerical rating scale of pain (P = 0) were significantly more likely to be in the working group at registration. There were 9 patients who experienced improvements in their working status or income at least once in the follow-up after radiation therapy. Conclusions: The majority of patients with bone metastasis were not working at the start of or after radiation therapy, but the number of patients who were working was not negligible. Radiation oncologists should be aware of the working status of patients and provide appropriate support for each patient. The benefit of radiation therapy to support patients continuing their work and returning to work should be investigated further in prospective studies.

Hands-on seminar for image-guided adaptive brachytherapy and intracavitary/interstitial brachytherapy for uterine cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Compared with the implementation speed of image-guided adaptive brachytherapy for uterine cervical cancer, that of intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy is slow, possible because it requires more invasive procedure of inserting needles directly into tumours. To accelerate the implementation speed of intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy, a first hands-on seminar for image-guided adaptive brachytherapy and intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy for uterine cervical cancer was held on 26 November 2022, supported by Japanese Society for Radiology and Oncology. This article deals with this hands-on seminar and difference of degree of confidence of participants in starting intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy before and after the seminar. METHODS: The seminar consisted of lectures regarding intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy in the morning and hands-on practice of needle insertion and contouring, as well as dose calculation practice using the radiation treatment system in the evening. Prior to and following the seminar, participants completed a questionnaire asking about their level of confidence in performing intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy, expressed between 0 and 10 (the higher the number, the stronger the confidence). RESULTS: A total of 15 physicians, six medical physicists and eight radiation technologists from 11 institutions attended the meeting. The median level of confidence before and after the seminar was 3 (range, 0-6) and 5.5 (range, 3-7), respectively, and a statistically significant improvement was observed (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: It was suggested that the hands-on seminar on intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy for locally advanced uterine cervical cancer improved the level of confidence of the attendees and propelled their motivation, through which it is expected that the implementation of intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy will be accelerated.