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Cesium adsorption/desorption experiments for various clay minerals, considering actual contamination conditions in Fukushima, were conducted using the 137 Cs radioisotope and an autoradiography using imaging plates (IPs). A 50 μl solution containing 0.185 ~ 1.85 Bq of 137 Cs (10 −11  ~ 10 −9  molL −1 of 137 Cs) was dropped onto a substrate where various mineral particles were arranged. It was found that partially-vermiculitized biotite, which is termed “weathered biotite” (WB) in this study, from Fukushima sorbed 137 Cs far more than the other clay minerals (fresh biotite, illite, smectite, kaolinite, halloysite, allophane, imogolite) on the same substrate. When WB was absent on the substrate, the amount of 137 Cs sorbed to the other clay minerals was considerably increased, implying that selective sorption to WB caused depletion of radiocesium in the solution and less sorption to the coexisting minerals. Cs-sorption to WB continued for about one day, whereas that to ferruginous smectite was completed within one hour. The sorbed 137 Cs in WB was hardly leached with hydrochloric acid at pH 1, particularly in samples with a longer sorption time. The presence/absence of WB sorbing radiocesium is a key factor affecting the dynamics and fate of radiocesium in Fukushima.

Magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging is desirable for evaluating Kawasaki disease (KD)-associated coronary arterial lesions. To evaluate the reproducibility of three-dimensional turbo spin-echo (3D-TSE) and two-dimensional dual inversion-recovery turbo spin-echo (2D-DIR-TSE) for coronary vessel wall imaging in KD. Ten patients were prospectively enrolled. Coronary vessel wall imaging with axial-slice orientation 3D-TSE and 2D-DIR-TSE were acquired for cross-sectional images in aneurysmal and normal regions. Lumen area (LA), wall area (WA), and normalized wall index (NWI) of cross-sectional images were measured in both regions. Reproducibility between 3D-TSE and 2D-DIR-TSE was evaluated via intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland–Altman plots. 48 points (aneurysmal, 27; normal, 21) were evaluated. There were high ICCs between 3D-TSE and 2D-DIR-TSE in LA (0.95) and WA (0.95). In aneurysmal regions, 95% limits of agreement were LA, WA, and NWI of − 29.9 to 30.4 mm 2 , − 18.8 to 15.0 mm 2 , and − 0.22 to 0.20, respectively. In normal regions, the 95% limits of agreement were LA, WA, and NWI of − 4.44 to 4.38 mm 2 , − 3.51 to 4.30 mm 2 , and − 0.14 to 0.16, respectively. No fixed and proportional biases between 3D-TSE and 2D-DIR-TSE images in aneurysmal and normal regions were noted. 3D-TSE was reproducible with conventional 2D-DIR-TSE for coronary vessel wall assessment on KD.

Basalt weathering in oceanic crust controls long-term elemental cycling on Earth. It is unknown whether basalt weathering tends to continue in unsedimented oceanic crust with formation ages of >10–20 million years (Ma), when fluid circulation is restricted by the formation of secondary minerals in fractures/veins. We investigated basalt weathering in 13.5-, 33.5- and 104-Ma oceanic crust below the South Pacific Gyre by combining bulk and in-situ clay mineral characterisations. Here we show the formation of iron-rich smectite at the rims of fractures/veins in 33.5-Ma and 104-Ma core samples from depths as great as 121 metres below the seafloor. In contrast, iron-rich smectite formation was not observed in three 13.5-Ma core samples, which suggests that iron-rich smectite formation may be affected by the dilution of aqueous silica supplied from basalt dissolution by actively circulating fluid. As iron-rich smectite from the 33.5-Ma and 104-Ma core samples was more enriched in Mg and K than that typically found at hydrothermal mounds, iron-rich smectite formation appears to result from basalt weathering rather than hydrothermal alteration. Our results suggest that unsedimented basaltic basement is permeable and reactive to host microbial life in aged oceanic crust on Earth and possibly in the deep subsurface on Mars.

Objective The impact of clinical information on radiological diagnoses and subsequent clinical management has not been sufficiently investigated. This study aimed to compare diagnostic performance between radiological reports made with and without clinical information and to evaluate differences in the clinical management decisions based on each of these reports. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 410 patients who presented with acute abdominal pain and underwent unenhanced ( n = 248) or enhanced CT ( n = 162). Clinical information including age, sex, current and past history, physical findings, and laboratory tests were collected. Six radiologists independently interpreted CTs that were randomly assigned with or without clinical information, made radiological diagnoses, and scored the diagnostic confidence level. Four general and emergency physicians simulated clinical management (i.e., followed up in the outpatient clinic, hospitalized for conservative therapy, or referred to other departments for invasive therapy) based on reports made with or without the clinical information. Reference standards for the radiological diagnoses and clinical management were defined by an independent expert panel. Results The radiological diagnoses made with clinical information were more accurate than those made without clinical information (93.7% vs. 87.8%, p = 0.008). Median interpretation time for radiological reporting with clinical information was significantly shorter than that without clinical information (median 122.0 vs. 139.0 s, p < 0.001). Clinical simulation better matched the reference standard for clinical management when radiological diagnoses were made with reference to clinical information (97.3% vs. 87.8%, p < 0.001). Conclusion Access to adequate clinical information enables accurate radiological diagnoses and appropriate subsequent clinical management of patients with acute abdominal pain. Key Points • Radiological interpretation improved diagnostic accuracy and confidence level when clinical information was provided. • Providing clinical information did not extend the interpretation time required by radiologists. • Radiological interpretation with clinical information led to correct clinical management by physicians.

Background Autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) astrocytopathy is a newly identified inflammatory nervous system disorder characterized by Immunoglobulin G autoantibodies against GFAP. While several MRI features are considered typical for autoimmune GFAP astrocytopathy, reports of lesions affecting the inferior olivary nucleus (ION) are rare. In this context, we present two cases of autoimmune GFAP astrocytopathy with lesions in the ION. Case presentation Case 1 involved a 64-year-old man with meningoencephalomyelitis, peripheral neuropathy, and autonomic dysfunction. His brain MRI revealed bilateral ION lesions and changes along the dentato–rubro–olivary pathway, likely indicating hypertrophic olivary degeneration (HOD). Spinal cord MRI showed bilateral T2 hyperintensities in the anterior horns and a longitudinally extensive spinal cord lesion. In Case 2, a 60-year-old man presented with meningoradiculitis. Although he lacked encephalitic symptoms, his brain MRI showed a left ION lesion with radial perivascular enhancement in the periventricular white matter. The olivary lesion was not linked to other abnormalities along the dentato–rubro–olivary pathway, and contrast enhancement appeared in the same region before the T2 lesion was visible. These findings imply that the inferior olivary involvement in Case 2 was a primary inflammatory lesion. Palatal tremor was not observed in either case. Conclusions In autoimmune GFAP astrocytopathy, lesions in the ION can appear either as a primary inflammatory response or as HOD resulting from disruption of the dentato–rubro–olivary pathway. When ION lesions are detected during an acute phase that suggests inflammation, autoimmune GFAP astrocytopathy should be included in the differential diagnosis.

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to clarify the usefulness of the ‘hot cross bun’ sign (HCBS) as a diagnostic imaging marker in a large cohort of patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) and spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA).MethodsThis multicentre study included 97 patients with neuropathologically confirmed MSA, and 105 patients with genetically confirmed SCA. Neuroimaging features, including HCBS and middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP) hyperintensities, were assessed. HCBS was graded from 0 to 2: 0, none; 1, only a vertical hyperintense line; and 2, a cruciform hyperintense line. The neuropathological correlates of HCBS were evaluated in 15 patients with MSA with ≤3 months between MRI and autopsy.ResultsIn patients with a disease duration <3 years, grade 1 or 2 HCBS was detected in 100% patients with MSA with predominant cerebellar ataxia (MSA-C) and 39.0% with SCA; whereas grade 2 HCBS was observed in 50% with MSA-C and 2.4% with SCA. Moreover, the coexistence of grade 2 HCBS and MCP hyperintensities exhibited a specificity of 100%. A neuropathological assessment revealed myelin loss, alpha-synuclein aggregates and astrocytic reaction in the MCP, transverse fibres, central zone between longitudinal fasciculi and raphe nucleus, with relative preservation in the longitudinal fasciculi and medial lemniscus in patients with MSA and grade 2 HCBS.ConclusionsGrade 1 or 2 HCBS is a highly sensitive finding in patients with MSA-C, and the observation of grade 2 HCBS within 3 years of motor symptom onset has excellent specificity for discriminating MSA-C from SCA, especially when accompanied by MCP hyperintensities.

Objectives We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta‐analysis to assess the value of image‐enhanced endoscopy including blue laser imaging (BLI), linked color imaging, narrow‐band imaging (NBI), and texture and color enhancement imaging to detect and diagnose gastric cancer (GC) compared to that of white‐light imaging (WLI). Methods Studies meeting the inclusion criteria were identified through PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Japan Medical s Society databases searches. The pooled risk ratio for dichotomous variables was calculated using the random‐effects model to assess the GC detection between WLI and image‐enhanced endoscopy. A random‐effects model was used to calculate the overall diagnostic performance of WLI and magnifying image‐enhanced endoscopy for GC. Results Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The detection rate of GC was significantly improved in linked color imaging compared with that in WLI (risk ratio, 2.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39–3.25; p < 0.01) with mild heterogeneity. Magnifying endoscopy with NBI (ME‐NBI) obtained a pooled sensitivity, specificity, and area under the summary receiver operating curve of 0.84 (95 % CI, 0.80–0.88), 0.96 (95 % CI, 0.94–0.97), and 0.92, respectively. Similarly, ME‐BLI showed a pooled sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve of 0.81 (95 % CI, 0.77–0.85), 0.85 (95 % CI, 0.82–0.88), and 0.95, respectively. The diagnostic efficacy of ME‐NBI/BLI for GC was evidently high compared to that of WLI, However, significant heterogeneity among the NBI studies still existed. Conclusions Our meta‐analysis showed a high detection rate for linked color imaging and a high diagnostic performance of ME‐NBI/BLI for GC compared to that with WLI.

The standardized T1-weighted/T2-weighted (sT1w/T2w) ratio for the middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP) has been reported to be sensitive for detecting degenerative changes in the cerebellar subtype of multiple system atrophy (MSA-C), even in the early stages. We aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of the MCP sT1w/T2w ratio for differentiating between MSA-C and spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA). We included 32 MSA-C, 8 SCA type 3 (SCA3), 16 SCA type 6 (SCA6) patients, and 17 controls, and the MCP sT1w/T2w ratio was analyzed using a region-of-interest approach. The diagnostic performance of the MCP sT1w/T2w ratio in discriminating among MSA-C, SCA3, and SCA6 was assessed and compared with diagnosis based on visual interpretation of MCP hyperintensities and the \"hot cross bun\" (HCB) sign. MCP sT1w/T2w ratio values were markedly lower in patients with MSA-C than in those with SCA3, those with SCA6, and controls (p < 0.001). The MCP sT1w/T2w ratio showed high diagnostic accuracy for distinguishing MSA-C from SCA3 (area under curve = 0.934), SCA6 (area under curve = 0.965), and controls (area under curve = 0.980). The diagnostic accuracy of the MCP sT1w/T2w ratio for differentiating MSA-C from SCA3 or SCA6 (90.0% for MSA-C vs. SCA3, and 91.7% for MSA-C vs. SCA6) was comparable to or superior than that of visual interpretation of MCP hyperintensities (80.0-87.5% in MSA-C vs. SCA3 and 87.6-97.9% in MSA-C vs. SCA6) or the HCB sign (72.5-80.0% in MSA-C vs. SCA3 and 77.1-93.8% in MSA-C vs. SCA6). The MCP sT1w/T2w ratio might be a sensitive imaging-based marker for detecting MSA-C-related changes and differentiating MSA-C from SCA3 or SCA6.

Objectives This study aimed to compare the short‐term therapeutic outcomes between conventional endoscopic submucosal dissection (C‐ESD) and gel immersion ESD (GI‐ESD) for superficial non‐ampullary duodenal epithelial tumors (SNADETs). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with SNADETs who underwent C‐ESD or GI‐ESD between June 2016 and May 2024. To reduce proficiency bias, the first 50 cases per endoscopist were excluded. C‐ESD was performed using a scissor‐type knife under CO2 insufflation, while GI‐ESD was performed using the same knife under gel immersion. Primary outcomes included en bloc and R0 resection rates; secondary outcomes were resection time, adverse events, and inflammatory response. Results Overall, 51 C‐ESD and 49 GI‐ESD procedures were analyzed. Both groups achieved 100% en bloc resection. R0 resection rates were comparable (C‐ESD: 92.6%, GI‐ESD: 90.2%, p = 0.661). Muscle layer exposure was significantly lower in the GI‐ESD group (1.9%) than in the C‐ESD group (16.7%, p = 0.032). The mean white blood cell count was also significantly lower in the GI‐ESD group (p = 0.038). The incidence of adverse events in the C‐ESD and GI‐ESD groups was 5.6% and 1.9%, respectively (p = 0.627). However, no cases of perforation or aspiration were observed in the GI‐ESD group. Conclusions GI‐ESD is a safe and effective alternative to conventional ESD for SNADETs, offering comparable resection outcomes and low risk of adverse events with a reduced risk of muscle layer exposure.

The upper oceanic crust is mainly composed of basaltic lava that constitutes one of the largest habitable zones on Earth. However, the nature of deep microbial life in oceanic crust remains poorly understood, especially where old cold basaltic rock interacts with seawater beneath sediment. Here we show that microbial cells are densely concentrated in Fe-rich smectite on fracture surfaces and veins in 33.5- and 104-million-year-old (Ma) subseafloor basaltic rock. The Fe-rich smectite is locally enriched in organic carbon. Nanoscale solid characterizations reveal the organic carbon to be microbial cells within the Fe-rich smectite, with cell densities locally exceeding 10 10 cells/cm 3 . Dominance of heterotrophic bacteria indicated by analyses of DNA sequences and lipids supports the importance of organic matter as carbon and energy sources in subseafloor basalt. Given the prominence of basaltic lava on Earth and Mars, microbial life could be habitable where subsurface basaltic rocks interact with liquid water. Yohey Suzuki, Seiya Yamashita et al. discover the presence of bacterial cells in the iron-rich smectite on aged subseafloor basaltic rock using nanoscale solid characterizations. Analysis of their lipid profiles and DNA sequences reveals the dominance of heterotrophic bacteria, suggesting the presence of organic matter resources in the subsea basalt.