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More scientifically based stock assessments of data-limited species are rapidly increasing worldwide. Concurrently, non-negligible biases of stock status estimated using data-limited methods are becoming an issue. It is well known that the assumed prior distribution on depletion for some data-limited methods strongly affects the estimated stock status. Priors on depletion are best set based on expert knowledge, however, expert subjectivity and experience should be considered. Moreover, for a very data-limited stock, there is no information from experts. Owing to such constraints, the blind application of "default priors" on depletion often takes place. Here, we examined fishery-related, model assumption-related, biology-related, management-related, and spatial-based characteristics of stocks in which such default priors tend to work well, and vice versa, by applying a machine learning method (XGBoost) to the RAM Legacy data. The results suggest that "false healthy" misclassification of stock status in Catch Maximum Sustainable Yield (CMSY) and Abundance Maximum Sustainable Yield (AMSY) methods occurs more for stocks that are less managed with short time series length with slow growth and less variation in recruitment. In contrast, "false overexploited" misclassification of stock status in CMSY and AMSY occurs more for stocks that are well managed, have long time series length, and high variation in recruitment. Filtering out non-suitable stocks based on such characteristics or correcting the bias using machine learning methods will prevent the blind application of default priors and may prevent misclassification of stock status for data-limited species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Integrated analysis is widely used for fisheries stock assessment. The analysis has several merits, including its prevention of the loss of information and its enabling of the evaluation of uncertainties that arise when integrating individual data, such as size composition data and abundance indices. However, the data integration itself causes one of the most difficult problems: conflicts among data sources. This paper provides an illustrative explanation of how data conflict can occur under model mis-specification on selectivity in a multi-fishery integrated stock assessment model through simulation with known parameters. We demonstrated that estimation bias can be caused under various scenarios of model mis-specifications on selectivity. Relative likelihood profiles decomposed into the likelihood components from different data sources revealed data conflicts among multiple datasets under the model mis-specifications, whereas the relative likelihood profiles displayed no severe data conflicts without any model mis-specifications. Data conflicts occurred because a single estimation model without correct selectivity assumptions cannot explain the observed multiple data sources simultaneously. We also found that almost all of the parameters estimated in the integrated model were potentially affected by the model mis-specification in any single component of selectivity for a specific fishery. If we accumulate empirical knowledge on the general patterns of conflicts and what types of data sources are robust against typical model mis-specifications, the relative likelihood profiles could be utilized more efficiently in diagnostics to identify potential model mis-specifications and to obtain more accurate estimates of the quantities of interest for stock management. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Offshore lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) in British Columbia (BC) make seasonal migrations that differ by sex: in winter most adult males aggregate in shallow water and most adult females aggregate in deep water, while in summer both sexes distribute equally in deep and shallow water. We developed a semi-age structured delay-difference model that accommodates sex-, and age/depth-specific seasonal migration and examined the sensitivity of biological reference points for BC offshore lingcod to migration pattern and the allocation of fishing effort across seasons and depths. When a migration pattern with a homogeneous distribution of males and females in shallow and deep water throughout the year was assumed, the estimated maximum sustainable yield (MSY), biomass at MSY (B MSY), and percent spawning per recruitment at MSY (%SPRMSY) were robust to changes in effort allocation. However, when a migration pattern that assumed a winter distribution of 95% of adult males in shallow water and 95% of adult females in deep water was used, the estimated MSY, BMSY, and %SPRMSY were markedly sensitive to changes in effort allocation. These results suggest that incorporating sex-, age/depth-, and season-specific structuring in stock assessment models could enable improved evaluations of management options for BC lingcod and other species with sex- and season-specific migrations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Population indices quantify changes in relative population sizes, which underpin much of basic ecology and conservation science. However, temporal changes in population counts may vary among survey sites for both ecological and artificial reasons, confounding existing population indices estimated without accounting for such variations. We created a smoothed hierarchical model, and compared its performance against the conventional approaches (generalized linear models and generalized additive models) and a non-smoothed hierarchical model using simulation data with a known nonlinear trend. The smoothed hierarchical model always estimated population indices with the best accuracy and precision; the performance of other models deteriorated substantially with increasing variation in trends of population counts among sites, causing inaccurate estimation of population growth rates. The estimated variations in trends of population counts among sites for 233 out of 518 North American breeding bird species were larger than the value used in the simulation where there was a considerable difference in the performance between hierarchical models and the conventional approaches. These estimated variations in trends of population counts among sites were particularly large in gregarious waterbirds. These results suggest that the smoothed hierarchical model developed in this study should play an important role in accurately assessing population indices, particularly for gregarious waterbirds, using count data from large-scale, long-term surveys in the field. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Blastobotrys is a genus of rare yeast that is increasingly recognized as a cause of fungal infections in humans. However, there have been no reports of fungal infections in humans caused by Blastobotrys mokoenaii. We describe a case of invasive fungal infection (IFI) caused by B. mokoenaii in an immunocompromised patient with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). A 46-year-old man with relapsed/refractory AML underwent a second allogeneic peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-PBSCT) during remission. The patient had prolonged neutropenia and received systemic steroid therapy for graft-versus-host disease before the second allo-PBSCT. Uncommon yeast was isolated from the blood cultures obtained on day 4. We initially suspected that the uncommon yeast was Trichosporon spp. based on its morphology. However, unlike Trichosporon spp., in vitro antifungal susceptibility tests showed that this yeast isolate was resistant to micafungin, caspofungin, voriconazole, itraconazole, and fluconazole. We performed DNA sequencing and identified it as B. mokoenaii. B. mokoenaii was persistently isolated from blood cultures taken during combination therapy with liposomal amphotericin B and voriconazole. The patient died of multiorgan failure on day 24. B. mokoenaii can cause severe IFI in immunocompromised patients; however, it may not be correctly identified by routine clinical microbiology testing in a hospital laboratory and DNA sequencing is useful for diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) is a fatal complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Only a few complications after HSCT have been reported as risk factors for SOS, including sepsis. Here, we report the case of a 35-year-old male diagnosed with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia who underwent peripheral blood HSCT from a human leukocyte antigen-matched unrelated female donor in remission. Graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis contained tacrolimus, methotrexate, and low-dose anti-thymoglobulin. The patient was treated with methylprednisolone for engraftment syndrome from day 22. On day 53, he presented worsening fatigue, breathlessness, and abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant that had persisted for 4 days. Laboratory tests showed severe inflammation, liver dysfunction, and positive for Toxoplasma gondii PCR. He died on day 55. An autopsy showed SOS and disseminated toxoplasmosis. Hepatic infection with T. gondii was identified in zone 3 of the liver, which overlapped with the pathological features of SOS. In addition, the timing of the exacerbation of hepatic dysfunction coincided with the onset of systemic inflammatory symptoms and T. gondii reactivation. This rare case of toxoplasmosis is the first to suggest that hepatic infection with T. gondii is strongly associated with SOS after HSCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is known to be an opportunistic pathogen with intrinsic and acquired resistance mechanisms to multiple antibiotics. Bloodstream infection caused by S. maltophilia is a potentially fatal complication, especially in recipients of umbilical cord blood transplantation (CBT). Infrequent reports of S. maltophilia skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), including metastatic cellulitis and ecthyma gangrenosum, have been reported as wound infections. Metastatic cellulitis lesions due to S. maltophilia are typically reported to be tender, erythematous, and to show warm subcutaneous infiltration. There are only a few available reports about the clinical course of metastatic cellulitis due to S. maltophilia. We experienced a case involving the development of metastatic cellulitis with fulminant and extensive exfoliation in a patient who underwent CBT. Despite controlling the bloodstream infection caused by S. maltophilia , the patient succumbed to secondary fungal infection due to the devastation of the skin barrier. Our case highlights that SSTIs due to S. maltophilia can cause the unexpected development of fulminant metastatic cellulitis with systemic epidermal peeling in severely immunocompromised hosts, including CBT recipients undergoing steroid therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) is being increasingly recognized as a severe complication that contributes to poor prognoses among patients with COVID-19. However, little is known regarding the clinical course of CAPA with hematological malignancies, especially after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). A 29-year-old woman was diagnosed with proven CAPA with an Aspergillus fumigatus identified by cultures of bronchoalveolar lavage and lung biopsy four years after haploidentical HSCT for acute myelogenous leukemia. She had been taking oral prednisolone for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome that developed after HSCT. Although prolonged RT-PCR positivity for SARS-CoV-2 (133 days after the onset of COVID-19) without shedding of viable virus was observed, the COVID-19 was treated with favipiravir, remdesivir, dexamethasone, and enoxaparin. However, the CAPA did not respond to combination therapy, which included triazole (voriconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole) and echinocandin (caspofungin, micafungin), even though the Aspergillus fumigatus isolate was found to be susceptible to these agents in vitro. Nevertheless, a total of 16 weeks of liposomal amphotericin B (L-AMB) therapy led to a favorable response, and the patient was discharged from the hospital on day 213. This case provided essential experience of CAPA treated with L-AMB in a recipient with chronic respiratory disease after HSCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of the current status of marine ecosystems is necessary for the sustainable utilization of ecosystem services through fisheries and other human activities under changing environmental conditions. Understanding of historical changes in marine ecosystems can help us to assess their current status. In this study, we analyzed Japanese commercial fishery catch data and scientific survey data of the diet of northern fur seal ( Callorhinus ursinus , NFS) to investigate potential long-term ecosystem changes in the western North Pacific Ocean off northeastern Japan over the past 60 years. Total commercial catches experienced peaks around 1960 and during the 1980s, decreasing to low levels around 1970 and after 1990. Catches were substantively impacted by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in 2011. Species composition of the commercial catch changed over time, resulting in changes in the mean trophic level (MTL) of the catches. Trends in observed commercial catches were affected by many factors, including species population fluctuations potentially related to large-scale environmental shifts, migration and distribution patterns of species related to local oceanography, changes in fishing technology, and the introduction of fishery management frameworks. The composition of NFS diet also changed over time: although overall changes were small, MTL derived from NFS stomach contents declined from the early 1970s to the late 1980s. This fall in the MTL of the diet of NFS is suggestive of a shift in pelagic fish fauna from a “mackerel-dominant regime” to a “sardine-dominant regime”. Inconsistencies between changes in species composition and MTLs of the commercial catch and NFS diet resulted from differences in commercial fishing targeting and NFS foraging behavior strategies. Although commercial catch is a valuable source of information for investigating historical changes in fisheries, biological resources, and ecosystems, catch data should be interpreted carefully and other relevant information available should also be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The effects of bait species (mackerel and squid) and color (blue-dyed and non-dyed) on the loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta bycatch in a pelagic longline fishery in the western North Pacific were assessed in shallow-set longline fishing experiments. The loggerhead turtle catches were analyzed using a generalized linear model (GLM) with a Poisson distribution. The potential factors (bait species, bait color, other species catch, and sea surface temperature) affecting loggerhead turtle catch were incorporated as explanatory variables. The model analyses indicated that bait species affected loggerhead turtle catch, while bait color did not. The model predicted that catch rates of loggerhead turtles were 75% less on mackerel bait to squid bait. This study demonstrated that fish bait choice was very effective in reducing loggerhead turtle bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries, but that the use of blue-dyed bait was not. Similar model analyses were also performed on target and by-product fish species, such as swordfish Xiphias gladius, striped marlin Tetrapturus audax, bigeye tuna Thunnus obesus, blue shark Prionace glauca, and shortfin mako shark Isurus oxyrinchus, and other non-target species. The remarkable differences between bait species and color that were found for loggerhead turtles were not found for these species catches. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the high seas of the North Pacific, large-scale squid driftnet fisheries targeted the autumn cohort of neon flying squid (Ommastrephes bartramii) from May to mid-September. Total annual catches during 1982–1992 ranged from 102,000 to 209,000t (149,000t on average). To assess the effect of intensive commercial driftnet fishing on this cohort, we assessed the stock based on past driftnet fishing data. We used three different methods to estimate stock size during the high fishing season (July) for the driftnet fishing ground between 170°E and 145°W during 1982–1992. We found remarkable agreement in average stock estimates based on the three methods, with estimates of 380,000t by the swept area method, 367,000t by the DeLury method, and 333,000t by the non-equilibrium surplus-production method. Of the three estimates, the swept area estimate was likely to be the most reliable because of the more realistic assumptions and reduced uncertainty of parameters in this method. The relative fishing mortality F/F MSY derived from the production model was 0.8–1.2, which was around the appropriate (maximum sustainable yield) fishing level (1.0), even during 1987–1990 when catches were large. The proportional escapement (number of squid alive at the end of the fishing season as a proportion of those that would have been alive had there been no fishing) was 18–64%, with an average of 42%, which was around the management target of 40%, even during this period. Thus, the large-scale driftnet fishery is considered to have been sustainable. Possible adverse effects of the driftnet fishery on food webs in the North Pacific are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Species identification based on morphological characteristics includes species misidentification, leading to estimation bias in stock assessment and posing challenges difficult to be resolved. The spawning eggs of spotted mackerel Scomber australicus and chub mackerel S. japonicus in the western North Pacific are used for stock assessment as an index of spawning biomass and are classified based on egg diameter by past evidence. However, the difference in the distribution of egg diameters between the two species has become so ambiguous that the spawning eggs of chub mackerel may be classified as spotted mackerel. This can be explained by the larger distribution of egg diameters in chub mackerel with increasing stock abundance, resulting in overlap with the distribution of egg diameters in spotted mackerel. This leads to species misidentification and biased estimates of spotted mackerel abundance. To overcome this bias, it is necessary to develop a standardization method to remove the effect of species misidentification. Here, we demonstrate that a recently-developed spatio-temporal model can easily and efficiently reduce estimation bias for egg density and stock abundance in the spotted mackerel, using 15 years data for spawning eggs. We incorporated species identification error as the effect of the egg density of chub mackerel on the catchability of spotted mackerel in the spatio-temporal model. The index estimated from the model decreased temporal fluctuation substantially. When using the index accounting for species misidentification, the retrospective bias of abundance estimates for spotted mackerel decreased by about half compared with using the indices that ignored species misidentification. These results suggest that incorporating species misidentification bias is an essential process for improving stock assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculous peritonitis is difficult to diagnose due to the disadvantages of ascitic culture and peritoneal biopsy. Although previous reports suggested that very high serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) levels may reflect the clinical activity of tuberculosis, little is known about the diagnostic utility of serum sIL-2R for tuberculous peritonitis. We describe a case of tuberculous peritonitis with chronic myelogenous leukemia. The abnormally high serum sIL-2R value and negative findings for other possible causes including lymphoma suggested tuberculous peritonitis and we administered anti-tuberculosis treatment before definitive diagnosis. Abnormally high serum sIL-2R levels may contribute to earlier diagnosis of tuberculous peritonitis, along with ruling out other potential differential diagnoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Donor KIR2DS1 was associated with reduced risk of relapse after HLA-haploidentical allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) using post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PT/Cy-haplo). • Donor KIR2DS1 was associated with improved overall survival with PT/Cy-haplo. • GVL effect via NK cell alloreactivity was exerted in CR, but not in non-CR. • Donor KIR genotyping and disease status should be assessed for donor selection. • Elucidating mechanisms involved could lead to novel strategies for relapse therapy. HLA-haploidentical allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) using post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PT/Cy-haplo) is becoming the standard of care for patients without an HLA-matched related or unrelated donor. PT/Cy-haplo can give more patients the opportunity to undergo allo-HCT, because most patients have multiple available HLA-haploidentical related donor candidates. The optimal donor selection algorithm in the PT/Cy-haplo setting has not yet been established, however. To contribute to the establishment of a donor selection formula based on disease status and killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genotype, we retrospectively analyzed 91 patients who underwent PT/Cy-haplo at our institution. In both patients and donors, HLA allele genotyping was performed for HLA-A, -B, -C, and -DRB1, and 16 KIR genes were genotyped. Patients in complete remission (CR) who underwent PT/Cy-haplo from a KIR2DS1 -positive donor had a significantly lower cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) than those who underwent PT/Cy-haplo from a KIR2DS1 -negative donor (1-year CIR: 0% versus 32.6%, P =.037; 2-year CIR: 9.2% versus 42%, P =.037). Moreover, PT/Cy-haplo from a KIR2DS1 -positive donor was significantly associated with improved overall survival (OS) (1-year OS: 91.7% versus 58.7%, P =.010; 2-year OS: 83% versus 34%, P =.010). In contrast, in non-CR individuals, PT/Cy-haplo from KIR2DS1 -positive donors did not significantly improve CIR or OS (1-year CIR: 56.5% versus 64.7%, P =.973; 2-year CIR: not reached versus 64.7%, P not evaluable; 1-year OS: 25.4% versus 20.6%, P =.418; 2-year OS: 5.1% versus 20.6%, P =.418). In addition, lower infused CD34+ cell dose, female-to-male transplantation, and acute myelogenous leukemia were significantly associated with increased risk of relapse and mortality. This study demonstrates that graft-versus-leukemia/tumor effects were exerted through donor KIR2DS1 at PT/Cy-haplo when patients have low tumor burdens. It would be worth examining the inclusion of donor KIR genotyping and disease status assessment in establishing optimal donor selection criteria for PT/Cy-haplo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Synchrony of species alternations in the northern Humboldt (NHCS) and Kuroshio (KCS) Current systems was examined by comparing time series data of landings and population statistics of major small pelagic fish species along with climate indices from 1960 to 2015. Target species were anchovy Engraulis ringens , sardine Sardinops sagax , jack mackerel Trachurus murphyi and chub mackerel Scomber japonicus in the NHCS, and anchovy E. japonicus , sardine S. melanostictus , jack mackerel T. japonicus and chub mackerel in the KCS. The time series of total biomass and spawning stock biomass (SSB) of anchovy and sardine for the NHCS and the KCS were well correlated, as were the landings data. Landings of small pelagic fish including jack mackerel and chub mackerel indicated that multi-species alternations may also be synchronous at a community level between the two current systems. Peak landings of jack mackerel and chub mackerel were observed between peaks of anchovy and sardine in both current systems, although the relationships between jack mackerel and chub mackerel differed between the current systems. The species alternations between anchovy and sardine are most reasonably attributable to environmentally-induced changes in the biomass as a major mechanism, although the effect of fishing activity cannot be excluded. Future studies will be required to compare biological characteristics of multiple small pelagic fish species in the pelagic food chain in each current system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background A new 23S ribosomal RNA genes-targeted in situ hybridization (ISH) probe to detect global bacterial genomic DNA (59 species from 35 genera; referred to as the GB probe) phagocytized in leukocytes was recently developed. This method provided early and direct evidence of bacterial infection with high sensitivity and specificity in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis ascites. However, the utility of this method in febrile neutropenia (FN) is unknown. Methods We prospectively evaluated the utility of the ISH approach using the GB probe and previously reported probes in patients with neutropenia and fever undergoing chemotherapy at our institution between June 2011 and July 2013. Blood samples for culture analysis and ISH tests were collected simultaneously at the onset of fever; the latter were performed repeatedly. Results Fifty febrile episodes were evaluated. In 24 episodes of fever of unknown origin and 15 episodes of local infection (all negative for blood cultures), ISH tests identified causal bacteria in 21% and 13% of cases, respectively, at the onset of fever. In seven sepsis cases (all positive for blood culture), positive ISH test results at fever onset were achieved in 71%; for two patients with neutrophil counts of 0/μl and 171/μl, respectively, negative results were obtained. Conclusions This new ISH approach could prove useful for early detection of bacteria in patients with neutropenia and blood culture-negative, with fever of unknown etiology after chemotherapy. Using this method in combination with blood culture, even in cases with extremely low neutrophil counts, might contribute to better management of FN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Whether presepsin (soluble CD14-subtype) is better than other markers including procalcitonin (PCT), has not been adequately investigated in febrile neutropenia (FN). Methods We prospectively examined the utility of presepsin in FN in Cohort 1 (C1) and 2 (C2), between November 2010 and February 2012, and between November 2013 and January 2014, respectively. The purpose of this study was to investigate 1) the relative value of serum presepsin over serum PCT in C1, and 2) the relative value of plasma presepsin as compared with serum PCT, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 with frequent, repeated sampling in C2. Results Seventy-nine FN episodes (C1, 75; C2, 4) were evaluable. In C1, when compared with control values, presepsin was significantly higher at onset of FN ( P = 0.004), while PCT was not significantly higher ( P = 0.54). The median value of serum presepsin within 72 h of onset of FN in subjects with fever of unknown origin, local infection, bacteremia and septic shock was 680 (reference 314) pg/ml, 763, 782 and 1359, respectively. In C2, the mean levels of plasma presepsin from onset of FN to 72 h were classified as negative in the two patients with no suspected site of infection, and those of the remaining two patients with clinically probable infections were positive (175, 131, 346 and 329 pg/ml, respectively). In contrast, the other markers did not discriminate between this two groups. Conclusions In FN, presepsin may be an earlier and more sensitive indicator of bacterial infection than PCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We performed a decision analysis comparing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) versus chemotherapy in first complete remission for patients with cytogenetically intermediate-risk acute myeloid leukemia, depending on the presence or absence of FLT3 -internal tandem duplication (ITD), nucleophosmin ( NPM1 ), and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha ( CEBPA ) mutations. Adjusted means of the patient-reported EQ-5D index were used as quality-of-life (QOL) estimates. In 332 patients for which FLT3 -ITD status was available, FLT3 -ITD was present in 60. In 272 patients without FLT3 -ITD, NPM1 mutations were present in 83. CEBPA biallelic mutations were detected in 53 patients. For patients harboring FLT3 -ITD, allo-HCT improved life expectancy (LE) (52 versus 32 months during 10-year observation) and QOL-adjusted life expectancy (QALE, 36 versus 21). Monte-Carlo simulation identified allo-HCT as the favored strategy in 100% of simulations. In patients without FLT3 -ITD, allo-HCT improved LE/QALE with or without NPM1 mutations. However, sensitivity analyses showed that the results were not robust enough. For patients harboring CEBPA biallelic mutations, chemotherapy was favored (LE, 53 versus 84; QALE, 37 versus 59), whereas, for patients with monoallelic mutations or wild-type CEBPA , allo-HCT was favored (LE, 68 versus 54; QALE, 48 versus 37). Sensitivity analyses did not change the results in either group. In conclusion, based on a Markov decision analysis, allo-HCT was a favored postremission strategy in patients with FLT3 -ITD, and chemotherapy was favored in patients with biallelic CEBPA mutations. A prospective study is warranted to determine the value of allo-HCT, especially in FLT3 -ITD–negative patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is no established second-line treatment for steroid-resistant acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). We prospectively assessed the safety and efficacy of intra-arterial steroid infusions (IASIs) for steroid-resistant acute gastrointestinal (GI) GVHD and compared the outcomes with those of historical controls at our institution. Nineteen consecutive, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation subjects aged 31–67 years (median 52) were enrolled between October, 2008, and November, 2012. Acute GVHD was confirmed by biopsy in all cases. The enrolled patients were treated with infusions of methylprednisolone into the mesenteric arteries and/or gastroduodenal and left gastric arteries. Fourteen consecutive patients who developed steroid-resistant acute GI GVHD between 2001 and 2008 were used as controls. For the primary endpoint at day 28, the overall and complete responses in the IASI group trended higher (79% vs. 42%, p = 0.066) and were significantly higher (63% vs. 21%, p = 0.033) than those in the control group. Although not statistically significant, owing to the small population, the crude day-180-nonrelapse mortality rate was about 20% lower and the day-180-overall-survival rate tended to be higher than the control (11% vs. 29%, p = 0.222; 79% vs. 50%, p = 0.109, respectively). There were no serious IASI-related complications. Our results suggest that IASI can safely provide excellent efficacy for refractory acute GI GVHD without increasing infection-related complications and may improve prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A WHO position paper states that allergen immunotherapy is an effective treatment for allergic diseases, and well characterized allergens should be used in immunotherapy. The house dust mite is a major cause of allergic disease. However, the biological activity of the mite extracts currently used cannot be clearly determined, since these extracts contain various impurities. The use of recombinant allergens can avoid this problem. However, there remains a risk of contamination by other impurities, such as host cell-derived proteins (HCPs). Advanced purification techniques are thus required to remove these contaminants. C8/119S is a mutant of the major house dust mite allergen Der f 2, and is expressed and accumulated as an inclusion body in Escherichia coli. The C8/119S was refolded and purified through three column chromatography steps. Using this method, we could obtain about 2g of the purified C8/119S in one purification batch. This amount is equivalent to 100,000 of the maintenance doses required for immunotherapy based on the WHO position paper. The purity of the C8/119S was 99% or more. The antigenicity of HCPs in the C8/119S was examined by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis assays. When the C8/119S was administered at 40μg/kg, no local anaphylaxis was observed. C8/119S was thus highly purified with an extremely low level of impurities, and our procedure was shown to be an effective advanced production-scale purification process for this Der f 2 mutant. In this study, we established an advanced purification processes for C8/119S, then characterized the purified C8/119S and evaluated its purity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the present paper, six V-active brazes were designed. The wetting behavior of Ni–V, Co–V and Ni–Cr–V alloys on Si3N4 was studied by the sessile drop method. The results show that, under the heating condition of 1553K/120min, the Ni–V alloys with the V content of no higher than 25wt.% did not wet Si3N4, whereas, the Ni–V alloys with the V content of no lower than 34.5wt.% exhibit good wettability. Though the spreading of the Ni–V, Co–V and Ni–Cr–V brazing alloys on the Si3N4 was slow, intensive interfacial reactions occurred, and according to the results of XRD analysis, compounds of V3Ni2Si, V6Si5 and VN were formed at the interface of Si3N4/Ni–V alloy. The corresponding interfacial reactions were also discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A Co–V alloy and three kinds of PdNi–Cr–V alloys were designed for SiC joining. A wetting experiment was conducted with the sessile drop method. The interface reactions are discussed. Vanadium was found to be effective in controlling of the interface reaction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The highest density DNA chip reported to date was developed using a DNA solidification technique for vertical binding to the surface of a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond chip. The covalently bound oligonucleotide was approximately 42 pmol (∼2.5×1013 molecules) per 9 mm2 of chip surface. Using the oligonucleotide as a linker, large DNA molecules (21 kbp fragment from λ-phage DNA) were covalently bound in the amount of approximately 2.6 fmol (∼1.6×109 molecules) per 9 mm2 of chip surface. To test the potential of the technique for repeated utilization of one piece of the DNA chip, PCR enhancement of a 500 bp region within the 21 kbp λ-DNA fragment was applied over 50 times. The results suggest that a diamond DNA chip is excellent for the preservation of limited and/or valuable gene samples. Furthermore, the technique of high density DNA solidification to a CVD diamond chip will be useful for DNA diagnosis in the future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The impact of the reconstitution of IgG subclasses after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) on the outcomes is unclear. We investigated the effects of stem cell source on the levels of serum IgG subclasses and their influence on the infection risk and prognosis. The levels of serum IgG, IgG2 and IgG4 were measured chronologically in 100 patients who underwent allo-HCT at our institute. The median levels of serum IgG, IgA and IgM and the number of total B-cells were determined up to one year after allo-HCT. The serum IgG2 levels decreased within one year. A multiple linear regression analysis identified lymphoid malignancy, cord blood, and days after allo-HCT as significant risk factors for low serum IgG2 levels. There were no significant differences in the level of IgG or IgG2 at 90 days after allo-HCT between the late bacterial infection group (≥90 days following allo-HCT) and the control group (P = 0.34 and 0.45, respectively). There was no significant impact of the IgG, IgG2 or IgG4 levels on the survival or non-relapse mortality. The results suggest that cord blood transplantation might affect humoral immune reconstitution, including the IgG2 level, after allo-HCT. • Serum IgG2 levels decreased within 365 days after allo-HCT. • Cord blood transplantation might affect reconstitution of IgG2 level. • Lymphoid malignancy was also a significant risk factor for low serum IgG2 level. • Patients with late bacterial infections showed low serum IgG2 levels at day 365. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We developed the integrated model delta-GLM-tree to derive standardized catch rate. • Abundance indices for recruitment of Pacific chub mackerel have increased recently. • Optimal area stratification suggested a range shift of recruits to high-sea areas. • Delta-GLM-tree basically outperform GAM and improved a stock assessment model. • The obtained information will be useful for assessment and management. Standardization of catch per unit effort is an effective way to not only extract temporal abundance trends but also understand distribution shifts of fish resources. Chub mackerel in the Northwest Pacific has recently been of great concern to fishermen and fisheries managers because the total catch has been increasing, and fishing grounds have expanded from the Japanese exclusive economic zone eastward to high-sea areas. Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of chub mackerel is urgently needed for evaluating the current status (i.e., abundance and distribution) and considering future exploitation. Here we constructed two recruitment indices from pelagic trawl survey data of the Pacific chub mackerel. For recruitment indices of age-0 fish, we integrated an algorithm for automatic area stratification into the delta-GLM that combines two separate generalized linear models (for encounter probability and positive catch rates) to simultaneously investigate changes in relative abundance and distribution. Recruitment indices were high in the recent years of 2013, 2016, and 2017, especially at around 160 °E longitude within the high-sea areas, suggesting simultaneous changes in abundance and distribution. Furthermore, we found that our approach had better predictive ability, especially for positive catch rates, than that of a generalized additive model by cross validation, and the obtained standardized indices mitigated potential bias in stock assessment estimates. Our integrated approach will be useful for understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of fishes and standardizing abundance indices for stock assessment and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]