Time course and localization of nerve growth factor expression and sensory nerve growth during progression of knee osteoarthritis in rats.

OBJECTIVES: Nerve growth factor (NGF) and sensory nerves are key factors in established osteoarthritis (OA) knee pain. We investigated the time course of NGF expression and sensory nerve growth across early and late stages of OA progression in rat knees. DESIGN: Knee OA was induced by medial meniscectomy in rats. OA histopathology, NGF expression, and calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactive (CGRP-IR) nerves were quantified pre-surgery and post-surgery at weeks 1, 2, 4 and 6. Pain-related behavior was evaluated using dynamic weight distribution and mechanical sensitivity of the hind paw. RESULTS: NGF expression in chondrocytes increased from week 1 and remained elevated until the advanced stage. In synovium, NGF expression increased only in early stages, whereas in osteochondral channels and bone marrow, NGF expression increased in the later stages of OA progression. CGRP-IR nerve density in suprapatellar pouch peaked at week 4 and decreased at week 6, whereas in osteochondral channels and bone marrow, CGRP-IR innervation increased through week 6. Percent ipsilateral weight-bearing decreased throughout the OA time course, whereas reduced paw withdrawal thresholds were observed only in later stages. CONCLUSION: During progression of knee OA, time-dependent alterations of NGF expression and CGRP-IR sensory innervation are knee tissue specific. NGF expression increased in early stages and decreased in advanced stage in the synovium but continued to increase in osteochondral channels and bone marrow. Increases in CGRP- IR sensory innervation followed increases in NGF expression, implicating that NGF is a key driver of articular nerve growth associated with OA pain.

Randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effects of chicken hot water extract on insulin secretion.

OBJECTIVE: Essence of chicken (EOC), a hot water extract of chicken, is widely consumed in Southeast Asia as a beverage. EOC has an inhibitory effect on the elevation of blood glucose levels and a secretagogue effect on insulin. However, the mechanism by which EOC promotes insulin secretion is unknown. We aimed to verify the postprandial hyperglycemic inhibitory effect and the insulin secretory effect of EOC in healthy adults under appropriate placebo settings. In addition, we aimed to understand the mechanism underlying the insulin secretory effect of EOC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-four healthy Japanese adults were fed 68 mL of EOC or control food, followed by 200 g of cooked rice. Blood glucose and plasma insulin levels were measured at 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min after the participants ate cooked rice. The trial had a randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled design. RESULTS: The ingestion of EOC induced an increase in the maximum blood concentration (Cmax) of insulin and shortened the time required to reach the maximum blood concentration following rice consumption. Ingestion of the test beverage resulted in a significantly higher insulinogenic index than that obtained after ingestion of the control beverage. No side effects were observed in this study. Mechanistic experiments revealed that EOC stimulated significant (p < 0.05) secretion of GLP-1 from NCI-H716 human intestinal L cells at 0.1, 1, and 10 mg/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Consuming EOC when eating rice supports pancreatic function. Daily consumption of EOC could elevate the early-phase insulin response; therefore, it could prevent diabetes in Asians with low insulin secretion.

MEASUREMENT OF HALF-VALUE LAYER IN COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY SCANNERS USING LUMINESCENCE OF POLYETHERSULFONE RESIN BY X-RAY IRRADIATION.

In this study, a method for estimating the half-value layer (HVL) and effective energy (Eeff) by imaging the luminescence from a polyethersulfone (PES) resin with rotating irradiation of X-rays in a computed tomography scanner was developed. The luminescence of the PES resin was imaged using a charge-coupled device camera. The PES-HVL was determined from the luminance attenuation profile corresponding to the X-ray attenuation within the resin. The PES-HVLs for tube potentials of 80-135 kVp were converted into Eeff values and were compared to those of a conventional lead-covered case method. The Eeff obtained using the proposed luminescence imaging method agreed within ~3.9% of that obtained using the conventional method. Moreover, dose simulations based on the X-ray spectrum calculated from the HVLs were performed using a poly(methyl methacrylate) phantom with a diameter of 16 cm. The simulated doses based on the luminescence imaging method agreed with the in-phantom dosimetry within ~9%.

Living with COVID-19: mass gatherings and minimizing risk.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been important to both minimize the risk of infection and restore daily life. As a typical example, mass gathering events, such as sporting events, are gradually becoming more common, thanks to the measures taken to contain COVID-19. Some pilot studies have been launched at governments' initiative to investigate the risk of infection without measures such as face masks and physical distancing at mass gathering events, but the ethics of these studies should be carefully considered. On the other hand, it is still beneficial to implement infection control measures at mass gathering events and, in parallel, to estimate the risk of infection with measures in place, especially under a lack of vaccination progress or the spread of mutant strains possibly resistant to vaccines. To help improve compliance with measures taken by spectators and organizers and to ensure their effectiveness, we have conducted quantitative evaluations of the implementation of such measures by monitoring CO2 concentrations, assessing the proportion of people wearing face masks and analysing human flow at the event. This approach allows us to share our observations with stakeholders and participants, enabling us to protect the culture of mass gathering events, minimize the risk of infection and restore a sense of well-being in daily life.

Radiation Dose-escalated Chemoradiotherapy Using Simultaneous Integrated Boost Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy for Locally Advanced Unresectable Thoracic Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Single-institution Phase I Study.

AIMS: About 80% of cases of locally advanced unresectable thoracic oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma recur within the irradiation fields after chemoradiotherapy. Radiation dose escalation using advanced radiotherapy techniques is expected to improve clinical outcomes by reducing local and regional recurrence. The current study aimed to determine the recommended escalated radiation dose for these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with locally advanced unresectable thoracic oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma with good performance status underwent chemoradiotherapy using simultaneous integrated boost intensity-modulated radiotherapy (SIB-IMRT) with elective nodal irradiation. SIB-IMRT was delivered in five fractions per week. The radiation dose to the unresectable gross tumour was escalated from 66 Gy to a planned maximum dose of 72 Gy in 3 Gy increments in a standard 3 + 3 design. The doses to the resectable component, superficial tumours and elective nodal regions were fixed as 60, 51 and 48 Gy, respectively. Cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil were concurrently administered. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was defined as acute grade 3 oesophagitis, grade 2 pneumonitis, grade 2 cardiac toxicity and a failure to complete planned radiotherapy within 60 days. Locoregional control and overall survival were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Nine patients were enrolled. RESULTS: DLTs occurred in one of six and two of three patients at doses of 66 and 69 Gy, respectively. All DLTs were grade 3 oesophagitis. The recommended dose was determined as 66 Gy delivered in 30 fractions based on the predefined criteria. With a median follow-up period of 23 months, the 1-year locoregional control and overall survival rates were 67 (95% confidence interval = 19-90) and 78% (95% confidence interval = 36-94), respectively. CONCLUSION: The recommended radiation dose in chemoradiotherapy using SIB-IMRT with elective nodal irradiation was 66 Gy delivered in 30 fractions.

Detailed Arterial Anatomy and Its Anastomoses of the Sphenoid Ridge and Olfactory Groove Meningiomas with Special Reference to the Recurrent Branches from the Ophthalmic Artery.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Detailed arterial anatomy of the sphenoid ridge and olfactory groove meningiomas is complicated due to the fine angioarchitecture and anastomoses between each feeder. Herein, we present details of the arterial anatomy and the relationships of feeders in these lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 20 patients admitted to our department between April 2015 and March 2020. Conditions of subjects consisted of 16 sphenoid ridge meningiomas and 4 olfactory groove meningiomas. We mainly analyzed arterial anatomy using 3D rotational angiography and slab MIP images of these lesions. We also analyzed the anastomoses of each feeder. RESULTS: We found that 19 (95%), 15 (75%), and 15 (75%) lesions had feeders from the ophthalmic, internal carotid, and external carotid arteries, respectively. As feeders from the ophthalmic artery, recurrent meningeal arteries were involved in 18 lesions (90%). Fifteen lesions (75%) had anastomoses between each feeder. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the meningiomas in the sphenoid ridge and olfactory groove had feeders from the ophthalmic and internal carotid arteries. There were various anastomoses between each feeder. This is the first report to demonstrate the detailed arterial anatomy and frequency of recurrent branches from the ophthalmic artery and their anastomoses using detailed imaging techniques.

Electrochemical reduction of CO2 using Germanium-Sulfide-Indium amorphous glass structures.

The research in electrochemical reduction of CO2 is shifting towards the discovery of new and novel materials. This study shows a new class of material, that of Ge-S-In chalcogenide glass, to be active for reduction of CO2 in aqueous solutions. Experiments were conducted with bulk and particle form of the material, yielding different product for each structural form. Faradaic efficiency of upto 15% was observed in bulk form for CO production while formic acid with up to 26.1 % faradaic efficiency was measured in powder form. Chalcogenide studies have focused primarily on the photoelectrochemical reduction however these results provide a strong merit for introducing metal in chalcogenide glass structures for electrochemical reduction of CO2. The activity for CO2 reduction and the change in product selectivity reflects that further efforts to improve the glass structures can be undertaken in order to increase the faradaic efficiency and selectivity of the products.

DEVELOPMENT OF A JAPANESE INFANT HEAD-CHEST PHANTOM AND INVESTIGATION OF THE CURRENT STATUS OF INFANT HEAD CT EXAMINATIONS IN JAPAN.

The aim of this study was to develop a head-chest phantom that could mimic the physique of a Japanese 0.5-year-old child and to investigate the current status of exposure dose in infant head computed tomography examinations in Japan. The phantom was produced by machine processing, and radiophotoluminescence glass dosemeters were installed in the phantom for dose measurement. Organ doses were measured for seven different head scan protocols routinely used in three hospitals. In this study, the average dose of the brain and lens within the scan region was equivalent to that measured using infant phantoms in previous studies. In contrast, the doses of both salivary glands and thyroid glands adjacent to the scan region were 1.4-1.8 times higher than those in previous studies. Expansion of the scan area accompanied by a transition of the scan mode from non-helical to helical may have resulted in the differences in organ doses.

Visualization of Lenticulostriate Arteries on CT Angiography Using Ultra-High-Resolution CT Compared with Conventional-Detector CT.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The newly developed ultra-high-resolution CT is equipped with a 0.25-mm detector, which has one-half the conventional section thickness, one-half the in-plane detector element width, and one-half the reconstructed pixel width compared with conventional-detector CT. Thus, the ultra-high-resolution CT scanner should provide better image quality for microvasculature than the conventional-detector CT scanners. This study aimed to determine whether ultra-high-resolution CT produces superior-quality images of the lenticulostriate arteries compared with conventional-detector CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 2017 to June 2017, thirteen patients with aneurysms (4 men, 9 women; mean age, 61.2 years) who underwent head CTA with both ultra-high-resolution CT and conventional-detector CT were enrolled. Two board-certified radiologists determined the number of all lenticulostriate arteries on the CTA coronal images of the MCA M1 segment reconstructed from 512 matrixes on conventional-detector CT and 1024 matrixes on ultra-high-resolution CT. RESULTS: There were statistically more lenticulostriate arteries identified on ultra-high-resolution CT (average, 2.85 ± 0.83; 95% CI, 2.509-3.183) than on conventional-detector CT (average, 2.17 ± 0.76; 95% CI, 1.866-2.480) (P = .009) in 16 of the total 26 MCA M1 segments. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in lenticulostriate artery visualization were the result of the combined package of the ultra-high-resolution CT scanner plus the ultra-high-resolution scanning protocol, which includes higher radiation doses with lower than the national diagnostic reference levels and stronger adaptive iterative dose-reduction processing. This package for ultra-high-resolution CT is a simple, noninvasive, and easily accessible method to evaluate microvasculature such as the lenticulostriate arteries.

Isotope Effect on Energy Confinement Time and Thermal Transport in Neutral-Beam-Heated Stellarator-Heliotron Plasmas.

The isotope effect on energy confinement time and thermal transport has been investigated for plasmas confined by a stellarator-heliotron magnetic field. This is the first detailed assessment of an isotope effect in a stellarator heliotron. Hydrogen and deuterium plasmas heated by neutral beam injection on the Large Helical Device have exhibited no significant dependence on the isotope mass in thermal energy confinement time, which is not consistent with the simple gyro-Bohm model. A comparison of thermal diffusivity for dimensionally similar hydrogen and deuterium plasmas in terms of the gyroradius, collisionality, and thermal pressure has clearly shown robust confinement improvement in deuterium to compensate for the unfavorable mass dependence predicted by the gyro-Bohm model.

SHAPE ESTIMATION OF BOWTIE FILTERS BASED ON THE LUMINESCENCE FROM POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE RESIN BY X-RAY IRRADIATION.

In this study, we devised a novel method estimating the bowtie filter shapes by imaging luminescence from a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin with X-ray irradiation in a computed tomography (CT) scanner. The luminescence distribution of the PET resin corresponding to the thickness of bowtie filter was imaged using a charge-coupled device camera. On the assumption that the material of bowtie filter is aluminium (Al), the shape of bowtie filters was estimated from the correlation between Al attenuation curves and the angular-dependent luminance attenuation profiles according to the thickness of bowtie filters. Dose simulations based on the estimated bowtie filter shapes were performed using head and body PMMA phantoms with 16 and 32 cm in diameter. The simulated values of head and body weighted CT dose index (CTDIw) based on bowtie filter shape by the luminescence imaging method agreed within ~9% with the measured values by a dosemeter.

NOVEL ANALYTICAL STUDY FOR REACTION INTERMEDIATES IN THE PRIMARY RADIATION INTERACTION OF DNA USING A SYNCHROTRON RADIATION-INDUCED LUMINESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY.

To identify the precise molecular processes to induce DNA lesions, we attempt a novel spectroscopy of X-ray induced luminescence (XIL) using soft X-ray synchrotron radiation, which is a non-destructive analysis of the reaction intermediates in the elementary reaction pathway of damage induction and self-organized restoration. Using a liquid micro-jet technique to introduce aqueous samples in a vacuum chamber, we measure UV-visible luminescence from nucleotide solution as a function of the soft X-ray energy from the nitrogen to oxygen K-edge region. The XIL intensities for the nucleotide solutions are significantly enhanced in the soft X-ray region (410-530 eV) which is ascribed to the K-shell excitation/ionization of nitrogen atoms in the nucleobases. Furthermore, the XIL spectra do not show any signature of X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) of the nucleobases. This is because the luminescence intensities collected from the integral area of the micro-jet only reflect the quantum yield of luminescence of the absorbed X-ray into UV-visible light irrespective of the absorption cross sections, i.e. of XANES. Thus the present result is the first evidence of luminescence as a result of X-ray absorption of aqueous nucleotides.

VALIDATION OF MONTE CARLO DOSE CALCULATION FOR PAEDIATRIC CT EXAMINATIONS USING TUBE CURRENT MODULATION BASED ON IN-PHANTOM DOSIMETRY.

The aim of this study is to estimate tube current modulation (TCM) profiles in paediatric computed tomography (CT) examinations with a TCM scheme (Volume-EC) and evaluate the estimation accuracy of TCM profiles. Another aim is to validate organ doses calculated using Monte Carlo-based CT dosimetry software and estimated TCM profiles by comparing them with those measured using 5-year-old and 10-year-old anthropomorphic phantoms and radio-photoluminescence glass dosemeters. Dose calculations were performed by inputting detailed descriptions of a CT scanner, scan parameters and CT images of the phantoms into the software. Organ doses were evaluated from the calculated dose distribution images. Average relative differences (RDs) between the estimated and actual TCM profiles ranged from -3.6 to 5.6%. RDs between the calculated and measured organ doses ranged from -4.2 to 13.0% and -18.1 to 4.9% for 5-year-old and 10-year-old phantoms, respectively. These results validate dose calculations for paediatric CT scans using TCM.

MEASUREMENT OF INTERNAL RADIATION DOSE DISTRIBUTION IN CT EXAMINATIONS USING POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE RESIN.

This study proposes a new dosimetry method for the estimation of the internal radiation dose distribution of a subject undergoing computed tomography (CT) examinations. In this novel method, dose distribution of a subject by CT scans was estimated based on radiophotoluminance distribution with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin which was cut to the average head size of a Japanese 1-year-old child. The difference in dose distribution depending on the type of bowtie filter was visualized by imaging luminance distribution with the PET phantom using a charge-coupled device camera. Dose distribution images simulated from a water phantom of the same size as the PET phantom were compared with the luminance distribution images. The linear correlation was demonstrated between luminance of the PET phantom and the simulated water dose. In comparison with the simulated water doses and the converted water doses from luminance of the PET phantom, the relative differences were within 20%.

Factors Influencing the Changes in Masticatory Performance: The Suita Study.

INTRODUCTION: Although previous studies have identified various factors related to masticatory performance, which factors affect longitudinal changes in masticatory performance have not been clarified. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to clarify factors involved in changes to masticatory performance and construct models from factors related to masticatory performance in a longitudinal study of a general urban population in Japan. METHODS: A total of 1,005 Japanese subjects (411 men, 594 women; mean age at baseline, 65.7 ± 7.7 years; mean follow-up period, 5.0 ± 0.9 years) were included in the Suita study. These subjects participated in dental checkups both at baseline (June 2008-December 2011) and at follow-up (June 2013-January 2017). The number of functional teeth and occlusal support areas was recorded and the latter assessed using the Eichner index. Subjects' periodontal status was evaluated based on the Community Periodontal Index. Masticatory performance was determined using test gummy jelly. Factors affecting masticatory performance at follow-up and the degree of their effect were investigated by multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: In multiple linear regression analysis with masticatory performance at follow-up as the dependent variable, baseline age, masticatory performance, number of functional teeth, and maximum bite force were significant independent variables. The results of multiple linear regression analyses by occlusal support at baseline identified only maximum bite force at baseline in subjects who were Eichner A and baseline age, masticatory performance, and number of functional teeth in subjects who were Eichner B as significant independent variables concerning masticatory performance at follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our study showed a relationship between longitudinal changes in masticatory performance and age, number of functional teeth, and maximum bite force and furthermore showed that the effects of these factors vary according to the residual number of occlusal support areas. KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT: Patients and clinicians should recognize the importance of objective and quantitative assessment for chewing efficiency and understand that various factors are related to longitudinal changes in masticatory performance. The results of this study can provide basic data for preventing or improving the decline in masticatory performance for elderly people with varying numbers of occlusal support areas.

Critical role of Myc activation in mouse hepatocarcinogenesis induced by the activation of AKT and RAS pathways.

MYC activation at modest levels has been frequently found in hepatocellular carcinoma. However, its significance in hepatocarcinogenesis has remained obscure. Here we examined the role of Myc activation in mouse liver tumours induced by hepatocytic expression of myristoylated AKT (AKT) and/or mutant HRASV12 (HRAS) via transposon-mediated gene integration. AKT or HRAS alone required 5 months to induce liver tumours, whereas their combination generated hepatocellular carcinoma within 8 weeks. Co-introduction of AKT and HRAS induced lipid-laden preneoplastic cells that grew into nodules composed of tumour cells with or without intracytoplasmic lipid, with the latter being more proliferative and associated with spontaneous Myc expression. AKT/HRAS-induced tumorigenesis was almost completely abolished when MadMyc, a competitive Myc inhibitor, was expressed simultaneously. The Tet-On induction of MadMyc in preneoplastic cells significantly inhibited the progression of AKT/HRAS-induced tumours; its induction in transformed cells suppressed their proliferative activity with alterations in lipid metabolism and protein translation. Transposon-mediated Myc overexpression facilitated tumorigenesis by AKT or HRAS, and when it was co-introduced with AKT and HRAS, diffusely infiltrating tumours without lipid accumulation developed as early as 2 weeks. Examination of the dose-responses of Myc in the enhancement of AKT/HRAS-induced tumorigenesis revealed that a reduction to one-third retained enhancing effect but three-times greater introduction damped the process with increased apoptosis. Myc overexpression suppressed the mRNA expression of proteins involved in the synthesis of fatty acids, and when combined with HRAS introduction, it also suppressed the mRNA expression of proteins involved in their degradation. Finally, the MYC-positive human hepatocellular carcinoma was characterized by the cytoplasm devoid of lipid accumulation, prominent nucleoli and a higher proliferative activity. Our results demonstrate that in hepatocarcinogenesis induced by both activated AKT and HRAS, activation of endogenous Myc is an enhancing factor and adequate levels of Myc deregulation further facilitate the process with alterations in cellular metabolism.