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Collection and cooking of wild vegetables have provided seasonal enjoyments for Japanese local people as provisioning and cultural ecosystem services. However, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011 caused extensive radiocesium contamination of wild vegetables. Restrictions on commercial shipments of wild vegetables have been in place for the last 10 years. Some species, including buds of Aralia elata, are currently showing radiocesium concentrations both above and below the Japanese reference level for food (100 Bq/kg), implying that there are factors decreasing and increasing the 137Cs concentration. Here, we evaluated easy-to-measure environmental variables (dose rate at the soil surface, organic soil layer thickness, slope steepness, and presence/absence of decontamination practices) and the 137Cs concentrations of 40 A. elata buds at 38 locations in Fukushima Prefecture to provide helpful information on avoiding collecting highly contaminated buds. The 137Cs concentrations in A. elata buds ranged from 1 to 6,280 Bq/kg fresh weight and increased significantly with increases in the dose rate at the soil surface (0.10–6.50 μSv/h). Meanwhile, the 137Cs concentration in A. elata buds were not reduced by decontamination practices. These findings suggest that measuring the latest dose rate at the soil surface at the base of A. elata plants is a helpful way to avoid collecting buds with higher 137Cs concentrations and aid in the management of species in polluted regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To establish diagnostic criteria for vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) using cytology and laboratory tests from vitreous samples: interleukin (IL)-10/IL-6 ratio, immunoglobulin (Ig) H gene rearrangement, and clonal B-cells on flow cytometry. Fifty-six patients with and 39 without VRL were included. We assessed the sensitivity and specificity of each test and those of diagnostic criteria based on combinations of these tests. The sensitivity values for malignant cytology, IL-10/IL-6 > 1, IgH gene rearrangement, and flow cytometry were 0.554, 0.821, 0.732, and 0.625 with specificity of 1.000, 1.000, 0.846, and 0.974, respectively. When the diagnostic criteria were set at malignant cytology or at two or more of of four tests (atypical cells, IL-10/IL-6 > 1, IgH gene rearrangement, and flow cytometry), the sensitivity and specificity values for accurate diagnosis were 0.929 and 1.00, respectively. Malignant cytology or positive results for two or more of four tests may be adequate for VRL diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurements in forest catchments in Fukushima Prefecture indicate that cesium‐137 (137Cs) leaching from forest litter affects dissolved 137Cs levels in river water. Existing simulations have been unsuccessful in reproducing this phenomenon due to mechanistic limitations in the models connecting the forest ecosystem and the river system. This paper introduces a new coupled watershed‐geochemical model to address this. We connected a forest ecosystem compartment model to the 3D watershed model General‐purpose Terrestrial Fluid‐Flow Simulator to describe 137Cs transfer between forests and the river system. The compartment model included nonleachable and leachable 137Cs sites in the organic layer. The latter sites model how leachable 137Cs stocks increase with ambient temperature owing to decomposing organic matter. The model was tested by simulating dissolved and particulate 137Cs discharges from a forested catchment upstream of the Ohta River, Fukushima Prefecture. The results for dissolved 137Cs concentrations in river water for 1 January 2014, to 31 December 2015, correlated well with catchment measurements. The simulations reproduced dissolved 137Cs concentration peaks that occurred during three typhoon events and the seasonal variations under baseflow conditions. The results support the theory that leaching from the organic layer in forests is a primary factor affecting river water dissolved 137Cs concentrations. The wider contribution of this study is it introduces a coupled watershed‐geochemical model, applicable not only for evaluating the dynamics of 137Cs, but also those of other substances that adsorb onto sediments and soil particles, and leach from forest organic matter. Plain Language Summary: Cesium‐137 (137Cs) derived from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is a critical radioisotope remaining from the fallout owing to its high activity, long half‐life (30.1 y), and potential impacts on humans and ecosystems. Approximately 70% of all land in Fukushima Prefecture is covered with forests, where 137Cs is predominantly present. The behavior of dissolved 137Cs in the environment must be investigated because this form of 137Cs is readily absorbed by living beings. Researchers have reported that dissolved 137Cs concentrations in river water under baseflow conditions vary seasonally and rise during storms, indicating that leaching from organic matter in forests is a dissolved 137Cs source. We developed a new simulation model for the dynamics of 137Cs between the forest ecosystem and the river system. The simulations reproduced the dissolved 137Cs concentration peaks that occurred during previous typhoons and the seasonal variations that occurred under baseflow conditions. Therefore, the model's results support the theory that leaching from the organic layer in forests is a primary factor affecting dissolved 137Cs concentrations in river water. The model introduced here can not only be used for simulating 137Cs, but also has wider applicability for simulating the transport mechanisms of other contaminants through forest watersheds. Key Points: A coupled watershed‐geochemical model is introduced for simulating dissolved contaminant transport from forests into river waterThe model reproduced dissolved 137Cs concentration trends in Ohta River, Fukushima Prefecture, in base‐ and stormflow periodsThe results supported the theory that the organic layer is an important contamination source for river water [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the Tokyo Electric Power Company Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in Japan, freshwater ecosystems near the site remained contaminated by radiocesium (RCs). Clarifying RCs concentrations in aquatic insects is crucial because fishes consume these insects that transfer RCs into freshwater ecosystems. As aquatic insects are usually measured for radioactivity in bulk samples of several tens of insects, variation in RCs concentration among individuals is not captured. In this study, we investigated the variability in 137Cs activity concentration in individual aquatic insects in detritivorous caddisfly (Stenopsyche marmorata) and carnivorous dobsonfly (Protohermes grandis) larvae from the Ota River, Fukushima. Caddisfly larvae showed sporadically higher radioactivity in 4 of the 46 caddisfly larvae, whereas no such outliers were observed in 45 dobsonfly larvae. Autoradiography and scanning electron microscopy analyses confirmed that these caddisfly larvae samples contained radiocesium-bearing microparticles (CsMPs), which are insoluble Cs-bearing silicate glass particles. CsMPs were also found in potential food sources of caddisfly larvae, such as periphyton and drifting particulate organic matter, indicating that larvae may ingest CsMPs along with food particles of similar size. Although CsMP distribution and uptake by organisms in freshwater ecosystems is relatively unknown, our study demonstrates that CsMPs can be taken up by aquatic insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeMethodsResultsConclusionTo assess the clinical features of ocular adverse events in patients receiving BRAF/MEK inhibitor therapy.In this retrospective study, 65 patients were treated with BRAF/MEK inhibitors (dabrafenib/trametinib or encorafenib/binimetinib).Of the 65 patients, 28 had malignant melanoma and 37 had non-melanoma malignancies. Bilateral MEK-associated retinopathy was observed in nine cases; none experienced vision loss due to MEK-associated retinopathy. Uveitis was diagnosed in four patients (6.1%), three of whom presented with Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada (VKH)-like uveitis. All VKH-like uveitis cases were observed in patients with melanoma and their incidences were significantly higher in these patients than in those without melanoma (p = .04). Treatment with corticosteroids resulted in either resolution or control of symptoms in all cases of VKH-like uveitis, enabling continuation of BRAF/MEK inhibitor therapy.VKH-like uveitis was found to be significantly more frequent in patients with melanoma than in those with other malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article, the authors present a case of a 51-year-old female who was rushed to a clinic due to swelling on the outside of her upper right eye lid after taking corticosteroid inhallation and nasal drops to treat her asthma and rhinitis to discuss the efficacy of the interleukin-4/interleukin-13 inhibitor dupilumab as treatment of igG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). Also cited is the use of dupilumab to treat conditions like asthma, atopic dermatitis, and chronic rhinosinusitis.

A 49-year-old male presented with a three-day onset of blurred vision and metamorphopsia in the left eye. Fundoscopy and OCT images identified multiple subretinal masses with associating serous retinal detachment in both eyes. Bilateral choroidal metastasis was suspected, and further evaluation revealed a mass in the lower left lobe of the lung with multiple metastatic loci. Ultimately, the patient was diagnosed with Stage IVB (T2aN2M1c) adenocarcinoma of the lung. Genetic analysis revealed an exon 19 deletion mutation in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene. The patient was started on afatinib, a second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Drastic improvement in both tumor volume and visual acuity was observed after 1.5 months. The primary site and other metastatic loci also improved significantly during the observed period. Our report demonstrated the effectiveness of afatinib alone for the treatment of bilateral choroidal metastasis in a non-small cell lung cancer patient exhibiting EGFR mutation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTL) is an extranodal aggressive T or NK-cell lymphoma that is characteristically associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and cytotoxic tissue-destructive features. Although ENKTL is described as a distinct entity according to the 2008 WHO classification, a considerable complexity is associated with the differential diagnosis of other T-cell lymphomas with respect to tumour cell origins, locations, and the presence of EBV infection, as well as molecular and cytogenetic abnormalities. Here, we report a rare case of EBV-negative ENKTL, where the absence of EBV in the true NK-lineage cells was confirmed by extensive phenotypic and genotypic analyses. Furthermore, using the next-generation sequencing approach, we identified mutations in the tumour suppressor genes KDM6A and TP53. The clinicopathological characteristics were almost similar to those of EBV-positive ENKTL, except for the absence of EBV and histologically apparent angioinvasiveness. This is the first reported ENKTL case with mutations in the KDM6A gene. KDM6A is one of the histone-modifying genes that are mutated in many human diseases including haematological cancers. Epigenetic regulation of gene expression has recently been demonstrated in ENKTL, and a similar pathway is thought to play an oncogenic role in EBV-negative ENKTL. Our report shows the extent of comprehensive examination required before making a definitive diagnosis for NK- and T-cell neoplasms and broadens the therapeutic options for potential targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]