Explore the vast range of titles available.

Human group-specific component protein (Gc protein) is a multifunctional serum protein which has three common allelic variants, Gc1F, Gc1S and Gc2 in humans. Gc1 contains an O-linked trisaccharide [sialic acid-galactose- N -acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc)] on the threonine 420 (Thr 420 ) residue and can be converted to a potent macrophage activating factor (GcMAF) by selective removal of sialic acid and galactose, leaving GalNAc at Thr 420 . In contrast, Gc2 is not glycosylated. GcMAF is considered a promising candidate for immunotherapy and antiangiogenic therapy of cancers and has attracted great interest, but it remains difficult to compare findings among research groups because different procedures have been used to prepare GcMAF. Here, we present a simple, practical method to prepare high-quality GcMAF by overexpressing Gc-protein in a serum-free suspension culture of ExpiCHO-S cells, without the need for a de-glycosylation step. We believe this protocol is suitable for large-scale production of GcMAF for functional analysis and clinical testing.

NIRS3: The Near Infrared Spectrometer is installed on the Hayabusa2 spacecraft to observe the target C-type asteroid 162173 Ryugu at near infrared wavelengths of 1.8 to 3.2 μm. It aims to obtain reflectance spectra in order to detect absorption bands of hydrated and hydroxide minerals in the 3 μm-band. We adopted a linear-image sensor with indium arsenide (InAs) photo diodes and a cooling system with a passive radiator to achieve an optics temperature of 188 K ( − 85 ∘ C ), which enables to retaining sufficient sensitivity and noise level in the 3 μm wavelength region. We conducted ground performance tests for the NIRS3 flight model (FM) to confirm its baseline specifications. The results imply that the properties such as the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conform to scientific requirements to determine the degree of aqueous alteration, such as CM or CI chondrite, and the stage of thermal metamorphism on the asteroid surface.

Pure lunar anorthosite Based on analyses of lunar samples of anorthosite, the igneous rock made up mainly of plagioclase feldspar that predominates there, the light-coloured crust of the lunar highlands is thought to have been formed by the crystallization and flotation of plagioclase from a global magma ocean. The exact mechanism by which such a crust formed remains a matter for debate. Spectroscopic data from SELENE, the main orbiter component of the Japanese KAGUYA lunar mission, have now been used to produce a clear and high spatial resolution view of the composition of the lunar crust. The data, from 69 different locations, reveal the widespread existence of virtually pure —100% plagioclase — anorthosite. This contrasts to previous estimates of 82 to 92 vol% plagioclase, providing a valuable constraint on models of lunar magma ocean evolution. It has long been thought that the lunar highland crust was formed by the crystallization and floatation of plagioclase from a global magma ocean, but the exact mechanism by which such a crust formed remains debated. Data from the Japanese SELENE spacecraft are now used to produce a clear and high spatial resolution view of the composition of the lunar crust. The existence of widely distributed crustal rocks with compositions approaching 100 per cent (by volume) plagioclase is revealed. It has been thought that the lunar highland crust was formed by the crystallization and floatation of plagioclase from a global magma ocean 1 , 2 , although the actual generation mechanisms are still debated 2 , 3 . The composition of the lunar highland crust is therefore important for understanding the formation of such a magma ocean and the subsequent evolution of the Moon. The Multiband Imager 4 on the Selenological and Engineering Explorer (SELENE) 5 has a high spatial resolution of optimized spectral coverage, which should allow a clear view of the composition of the lunar crust. Here we report the global distribution of rocks of high plagioclase abundance (approaching 100 vol.%), using an unambiguous plagioclase absorption band recorded by the SELENE Multiband Imager. If the upper crust indeed consists of nearly 100 vol.% plagioclase, this is significantly higher than previous estimates of 82–92 vol.% (refs 2 , 6 , 7 ), providing a valuable constraint on models of lunar magma ocean evolution.

Introduction: Entrectinib is a multikinase inhibitor used to treat neurotrophic tropomyosin receptor kinase (NTRK) fusion-positive, locally advanced, or metastatic tumors. Cardiovascular events, such as congestive heart failure and myocarditis, have been reported in association with entrectinib use. Case Presentation: A 31-year-old female with NTRK1 fusion-positive breast cancer presented to our hospital with dyspnea and orthopnea 21 days after initiating entrectinib therapy (600 mg/day orally). Transthoracic echocardiography revealed circumferential pericardial effusion with diastolic right atrial and ventricular collapse. Consequently, she was diagnosed with pericarditis complicated by cardiac tamponade, and pericardiocentesis was performed. Cardiac tamponade resolved after discontinuation of entrectinib and initiation of corticosteroid therapy. Subsequently, larotrectinib (200 mg/day orally) was initiated. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of entrectinib-induced pericarditis complicated by cardiac tamponade. Patients should be closely monitored for signs of pericarditis and cardiac tamponade at the start of entrectinib therapy. In patients who develop cardiovascular toxicity due to entrectinib, larotrectinib may be considered as an alternative treatment.

The Spectral Profiler onboard the Japanese lunar explorer Kaguya conducted the first hyperspectral survey around the South Pole‐Aitken basin (SPA) on the Moon that is one of the largest impact structures in the Solar System. The radiative transfer modeling revealed that fresh crater central peaks inside SPA are commonly composed of an ultramafic assemblage dominated by Magnesium rich orthopyroxene, suggesting a homogeneous layer buried under SPA. The extensive ultramafic layer could be a relic of a gigantic impact melt pool produced by the SPA‐forming impact. The preponderance of orthopyroxene could have resulted from significant fractional crystallization of the lunar magma ocean prior to the onset of plagioclase floatation.

Synchronous bilateral breast cancer is rare, and oncocytic carcinoma is an even rarer breast cancer histological subtype. In general, oncocytic tumors are defined as neoplasms with eosinophilic granular cytoplasm and have been reported in various organs. Oncocytic carcinoma of the breast was first documented by Gădăleanu and Craciun in 1987, and 48 cases have since been reported. The present study reports a case of synchronous bilateral breast oncocytic carcinoma. The patient was a 78-year-old woman. Although she exhibited no symptoms, chest computed tomography revealed three multinodular breast tumors: Two in the right breast and one in the left. Core needle biopsy was performed on the three tumors, and the patient was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma with potential apocrine carcinoma. A bilateral modified radical mastectomy was performed. Surgical specimens of the three tumors revealed cord- or nest-forming tumor cells with eosinophilic granular cytoplasm. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were markedly positive for mitochondria. Electron microscopy of the tumor samples additionally revealed numerous mitochondria filling the cytoplasm. Based on these findings, the tumors were diagnosed as oncocytic carcinoma. The pathogenesis of oncocytic carcinoma remains to be fully elucidated; thus, additional clinicopathological studies are required.

We investigated the continuous spectral features of fresh craters on the Moon accompanied by distinctive bright rays, with cavity diameters between 8 and 24 km. We used the data from the Spectral Profiler onboard SELENE (Kaguya) to gain a better understanding of the composition of the lunar highland crust. We found that the observed spectra exhibited strong symmetric absorption around 1 μm and recognizable absorption around 1.3 μm. The spectra around a few craters showed a drastic change in the relative strengths of these two absorption bands s1.3/1.0 at different locations in and around the craters, indicating differences in the abundance of plagioclase and mafic minerals. In contrast, the spectra around most of the craters showed no significant variation in spectral shape, with an essentially constant s1.3/1.0. We analyzed the absorption features of the craters with an essentially constant s1.3/1.0 using the Modified Gaussian Model. We found that the strongest symmetric absorption bands were centered at 0.97–1.01 μm with s1.3/1.0 ≈ 0.2–0.6. Comparing these values with data from known samples, we concluded that high‐calcium pyroxene (HCP) is the most plausible dominant mafic mineral identified from the observed spectra. The fact that we detected such HCP‐dominant spectra among rayed craters widely spaced across the lunar highland implies that the major mafic component of some portions of the lunar crust is HCP rather than low‐calcium pyroxene (LCP). Key Points Using newly obtained SP data combined with MGM, we identified minerals on Moon SP spectra implied HCP is widely distributed near the surface of lunar highlands We presented potential interpretations of origin of observed HCP on the Moon

Objectives: Adenocarcinoma is known to be associated with ulcerative colitis, but the diagnosis is sometimes challenging, both clinically and pathologically. Methods and Results: We present a case of extremely well-differentiated adenocarcinoma associated with ulcerative colitis, in which preoperative diagnosis was not possible. Glands in biopsy specimens showed a serrated appearance that looked like low-grade dysplasia or regenerative mucosa. After an operation due to severe symptoms of stenosis, carcinoma was diagnosed. Tumor cells, especially in invasive glands, tended to show stronger immunoreactivity against anti-CK7, TNF-α and Aurora B antibodies compared to cells of mucosal lesion. Interestingly, CD44v6, one of the adhesion molecules, was less expressed in invasive glands, while those glands exhibited stronger expression of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM 17), one of the sheddases that cleaves an extracellular domain of CD44. Conclusions: These observations appear interesting to consider the pathogenesis and to diagnose extremely well-differentiated adenocarcinoma in ulcerative colitis, although further investigation is needed.

EHEC O157:H7 clade 6 strains harboring stx2a and/or stx2c and clade 8 strains harboring stx2a or stx2a/stx2c were frequently associated with childhood HUS cases in Japan. Rapid and specific detection of such lineages are required for infection control measures.Abstract Background.  Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 infection causes severe diseases such as bloody diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Although EHEC O157:H7 strains have exhibited high genetic variability, their abilities to cause human diseases have not been fully examined. Methods.  Clade typing and stx subtyping of EHEC O157:H7 strains, which were isolated in Japan during 1999–2011 from 269 HUS patients and 387 asymptomatic carriers (ACs) and showed distinct pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns, were performed to determine relationships between specific lineages and clinical presentation. Results.  Clades 6 and 8 strains were more frequently found among the isolates from HUS cases than those from ACs (P = .00062 for clade 6, P < .0001 for clade 8). All clade 6 strains isolated from HUS patients harbored stx2a and/or stx2c, whereas all clade 8 strains harbored either stx2a or stx2a/stx2c. However, clade 7 strains were predominantly found among the AC isolates but less frequently found among the HUS isolates, suggesting a significant association between clade 7 and AC (P < .0001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that 0–9 year old age is a significant predictor of the association between clade 8 and HUS. We also found an intact norV gene, which encodes for a nitric oxide reductase that inhibits Shiga toxin activity under anaerobic condition, in all clades 1–3 isolates but not in clades 4–8 isolates. Conclusions.  Early detection of EHEC O157:H7 strains that belonged to clades 6/8 and harbored specific stx subtypes may be important for defining the risk of disease progression in EHEC-infected 0- to 9-year-old children.

This study was designed to examine whether hyaluronic acid (HA) inhibits apoptosis in cumulus and mural granulosa cells and to examine whether this effect of HA was mediated through CD44. Mural and cumulus granulosa cells were obtained from in vitro fertilization patients. The cells were cultured with various concentrations of HA or HA plus various concentrations of anti-CD44 antibody without serum supplement. After 24 hr of culture, the cells were fixed and stained with Hoechst 33258. One thousand granulosa cells of each conditions were observed by fluorescence microscopy. HA inhibited apoptosis in both kinds of granulosa cells, and anti-CD44 antibody prevented this effect of HA. The incidence of apoptotic granulosa cells with fragmented condensed nuclei was reduced by HA via CD44.