Five-Fraction Radiosurgery Using a Biologically Equivalent Dose of a Single Fraction of 24 Gy for a 3-cm Parasagittal Para-Central Sulcus Brain Metastasis From Adenocarcinoma of the Cecum.

An isolated single brain metastasis (BM) is an extremely rare manifestation of failure in patients with cecal adenocarcinoma (CAC). Total en bloc resection (while preserving function) of a 3-cm BM involving both the primary motor and sensory cortexes presents a conundrum: achieving long-term local control and safety of such a BM is also challenging for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). We describe the case of a 3.1-cm BM from CAC in the left parasagittal para-central sulcus region, which was treated using five-fraction SRS with a biologically effective dose (BED) of 81.6 Gy. In the SRS, the gross tumor volume (GTV, 7.14 cm3) was defined based on computed tomography (CT)/T1/T2 matching (enhancing lesion 11.66 cm3), and 98.7% of the GTV (CT/T2 mass) was covered with 43.6 Gy (58% isodose) using volumetric-modulated arcs. The maximum tumor response was partial (19.7% of the prior GTV) and sustained for 15.2 months, leaving minor neurological symptoms. However, the patient developed neurological worsening at six months, attributed to adverse radiation effects with a CT/T1/T2 mismatch, for which medical management, including the addition of bevacizumab (BEV), was effective for one year. Multi-fraction SRS with a high marginal and internal BED and sequential systemic therapy, including BEV, can be a minimally invasive, efficacious, and durable treatment option for a large CAC-BM involving the central sulcus. Early co-administration of BEV following SRS, dose escalation to the GTV boundary, and more than five fractions of SRS may be considered to improve the efficacy and safety further.

Synthesis of Mannosylerythritol Lipid Analogues and their Self-Assembling Properties, Recovery Effects on Damaged Skin Cells, and Antibacterial Activity.

Synthesis of three types of purpose-designed mannosylerythritol lipid (MEL)-D analogues with decanoyl groups, ß-GlcEL-D, α-GlcEL-D, and α-MEL-D, was accomplished utilizing our boron-mediated aglycon delivery (BMAD) methods. Their self-assembling properties, recovery effects on damaged skin cells, and antibacterial activity were evaluated. It was revealed, for the first time, that α-GlcEL-D and α-MEL-D only generated giant vesicles, indicating that slight differences in the steric configuration of an erythritol moiety and fatty acyl chains affect the ability to form vesicles. Analogue α-MEL-D exhibited significant recovery effects on damaged skin cells. Furthermore, α-MEL-D exhibited antibacterial activity as high as that for MEL-D, indicating that α-MEL-D is a promising artificial sugar-based material candidate for enhancing the barrier function of the stratum corneum, superior to a known cosmetic ingredient, and possesses antibacterial activity.

Local spread of influenza A (H1N1) viruses without a mutation for the maximum duration of an epidemic season in Japan.

Close observation of the local transmission of influenza A(H1N1) viruses enabled an estimate of the length of time the virus was transmitted without a mutation. Of 4,448 isolates from 11 consecutive years, 237 isolates could be categorized into 57 strain groups with identical hemagglutinin genes, which were monitored for the entire duration of an epidemic season. In addition, 35 isolates with identical sequences were identified at the study site and in other countries within 147 days. Consequently, it can be postulated that once an influenza virus enters a temperate region, the strain rarely mutates before the end of the season.

Self-Assembling Properties and Recovery Effects on Damaged Skin Cells of Chemically Synthesized Mannosylerythritol Lipids.

Mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs), which are one of the representative sugar-based biosurfactants (BSs) produced by microorganisms, have attracted much attention in various fields in the sustainable development goals (SDGs) era. However, they are inseparable mixtures with respect to the chain length of the fatty acids. In this study, self-assembling properties and structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of recovery effects on damaged skin cells using chemically synthesized MELs were investigated. It was revealed, for the first time, that synthetic and homogeneous MELs exhibited significant self-assembling properties to form droplets or giant vesicles. In addition, a small difference in the length of the fatty acid chains of the MELs significantly affected their recovery effects on the damaged skin cells. MELs with medium or longer length alkyl chains exhibited much higher recovery effects than that of C18-ceramide NP.

Plastid Proteomic Analysis in Tomato Fruit Development.

To better understand the mechanism of plastid differentiation from chloroplast to chromoplast, we examined proteome and plastid changes over four distinct developmental stages of 'Micro-Tom' fruit. Additionally, to discover more about the relationship between fruit color and plastid differentiation, we also analyzed and compared 'Micro-Tom' results with those from two other varieties, 'Black' and 'White Beauty'. We confirmed that proteins related to photosynthesis remain through the orange maturity stage of 'Micro-Tom', and also learned that thylakoids no longer exist at this stage. These results suggest that at a minimum there are changes in plastid morphology occurring before all related proteins change. We also compared 'Micro-Tom' fruits with 'Black' and 'White Beauty' using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. We found a decrease of CHRC (plastid-lipid-associated protein) and HrBP1 (harpin binding protein-1) in the 'Black' and 'White Beauty' varieties. CHRC is involved in carotenoid accumulation and stabilization. HrBP1 in Arabidopsis has a sequence similar to proteins in the PAP/fibrillin family. These proteins have characteristics and functions similar to lipocalin, an example of which is the transport of hydrophobic molecules. We detected spots of TIL (temperature-induced lipocalin) in 2D-PAGE results, however the number of spots and their isoelectric points differed between 'Micro-Tom' and 'Black'/'White Beauty'. Lipocalin has various functions including those related to environmental stress response, apoptosis induction, membrane formation and fixation, regulation of immune response, cell growth, and metabolism adjustment. Lipocalin related proteins such as TIL and HrBP1 could be related to the accumulation of carotenoids, fruit color and the differentiation of chromoplast.

[Development of the QA/QC-tools for CT number calibration of the treatment planning CT-scanner.].

In order to support a routine QA of the CT number for treatment planning, we developed a phantom and a sample holder for easy handling. At most particle radiotherapy facilities in Japan, the CT number is calibrated by the poly-binary calibration method using liquid samples of 100% ethanol and 40% K(2)HPO(4) which are set in a cylindrical water phantom. However it is hard to remove air bubbles from the calibration liquid sample and maintain its stable concentration for a long time. So much time is needed for QA of the CT number. The new sample holder, which we developed, was able to keep a stable concentration of the liquid for more than 300 days. Consequently, the CT number of each sample, which was set in a water equivalent solid phantom, was the same as the CT number in a water phantom within 7 HU. In addition, we developed software which could measure the CT number of each sample semi-automatically and could calculate the calibration coefficients between the CT number and water equivalent length (WEL). Using this software, we could check the calibration result instantly at the time of CT data acquisition. These tools should be useful to carry out calibration of the CT-WEL routinely in a short time.

Development of the Casparian strip in primary roots of maize under salt stress.

The Casparian strip in the endodermis of vascular plant roots appears to play an important role in preventing the influx of salts into the stele through the apoplast under salt stress. The effects of salinity on the development and morphology of the Casparian strip in primary roots of maize ( Zea mays L.) were studied. Compared to the controls, the strip matured closer to the root tip with increase in the ambient concentration of NaCl. During growth in 200 mM NaCl, the number and the length of the endodermal cells in the region between the root tip and the lowest position of the endodermal strip decreased, as did the apparent rate of production of cells in single files of endodermal cells (the rate of cell formation being equal to the rate at which cells are lost from the meristem). The estimated time required for an individual cell to complete the formation of the strip after generation of the cell in the presence of 200 mM NaCl was not very different from that required in controls. Thus, salinity did not substantially affect the actual process of formation of the strip in individual cells. The radial width of the Casparian strip, a morphological parameter that should be related to the effectiveness of the strip as a barrier, increased in the presence of 200 mM NaCl. The mean width of the lignified region was 0.92 microm in distilled water and 1.33 microm in 200 mM NaCl at the lowest position of the strip. The mean width of the strip relative to that of the radial wall at this position was significantly greater after growth in the presence of 200 mM NaCl than in the controls, namely, 20.5% in distilled water and 33.9% in 200 mM NaCl. These observations suggest that the function of the strip is enhanced under salt stress.