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This study aimed to determine whether the current syphilis resurgence in Japan is attributable to incident syphilis in people living with HIV (PLWH).This observational, retrospective, population-based study used data from the Japanese National Database. Data were extracted for PLWH who received antiretroviral treatment between January 2009 and December 2018. Using these data, along with the annual number of PLWH and syphilis diagnoses in the total population of Japan acquired from the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, the fraction of PLWH with syphilis compared to the total number of syphilis patients reported each year was calculated.There was a dramatic increase in syphilis cases during the study period. However, the incidence of syphilis in PLWH was stable during 2010-2018; the fraction of PLWH with newly diagnosed syphilis remaining at approximately 2% of the total PLWH cases in Japan each year. The proportion of newly diagnosed syphilis cases in PLWH decreased during the study period and accounted for10% of the total syphilis cases in Japan since 2016 (14.9% in 2015 to 9.5% in 2016 and 5.9% in 2018). An increasing trend in the number of newly diagnosed syphilis cases in PLWH aged50 years was observed (7.4% in 2010 to 10.4% in 2014 and 14.9% in 2018).The recent dramatic increase in syphilis cases in Japan was not seen in PLWH. Thus, the resurgence of syphilis in Japan cannot be attributed to its transmission in the PLWH population.

In the treatment of an intracranial aneurysm with the flow diverter, the combined use of coil embolization can help promote subsequent progressive thrombosis within the aneurysm sac and reduce the risk of delayed aneurysm rupture. This study retrospectively reviewed outcomes of patients who had undergone the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) with adjunctive coil embolization (PED/coil) at a single center to determine its safety and efficiency. Patients with internal carotid artery aneurysms following an intradural component were selected for PED/coil between 2015 and 2020. All patients were premedicated with dual antiplatelet therapy of aspirin plus clopidogrel or prasugrel. A minimal number of PEDs were deployed, with coils inserted using a stent-jail technique, avoiding dense packing. A total of 46 aneurysms (43 patients; median dome size, 11.6 mm; median neck width, 6.3 mm) were treated with PED/coil. The median volume embolization ratio was 14.8%. The degree of angiographic filling at the 6-month and latest angiography showed complete occlusion in 60.5% (26/43) and 70.5% (31/44), respectively. Small ( 10 mm) aneurysms achieved a higher complete occlusion rate in the early period; a lower cumulative incidence of aneurysm occlusion was observed in large and giant (≥ 10 mm) aneurysms (P = .024). The median clinical follow-up was 22 months, and no aneurysm ruptures occurred. Favorable clinical outcomes were achieved, with permanent neurological morbidity of 4.7% and no mortality. PED/coil demonstrated a high angiographic occlusion rate at an early stage. Loosely packed coils are sufficient to obliterate aneurysms effectively.

Early treatment of HIV infection depends on timely diagnosis, but many persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are unaware of their infection. Though many patients seeking medical attention for sexually transmitted diseases have HIV, many patients’ HIV co-infection is undiagnosed in Japan. This is the first report to analyze the timing of syphilis infection in PLWHA of all ages through the use of the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan (NDB), containing clinical data of the largest group of HIV-positive patients available in Japan. Overall, 1521 PLWHA (male 93.2%) newly diagnosed and started on antiretroviral therapy were identified in 2016, and 646 (42.5%) patients had a diagnosis of syphilis between 2011 and 2018. Although 100 patients were diagnosed with syphilis before their HIV diagnosis, only 17 (17.0%) had been tested for HIV. Over 50 patients per year became infected with syphilis even after their HIV diagnosis (2017, n = 65 (4.3%); 2018, n = 58 (3.8%)). Although early diagnosis of HIV infection is important, most syphilis patients in Japan had not been properly tested for HIV infection. Since a certain number of HIV patients developed syphilis after HIV diagnosis, education for newly diagnosed HIV patients is important.

Background An exchange maneuver is useful for the delivery of devices to target vessels. However, hemorrhagic complications can occur due to vessel perforation during an exchange maneuver. In addition, the exchange is often challenging due to unfavorable anatomy. Center Wire is an exchange-length wire with a nondetachable stent that was developed to improve navigation and stability during exchange maneuvers. The aim of this study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of Center Wire of the anchor wire technique during neuroendovascular treatment. Methods Ten patients with intracranial aneurysms were treated after signing a Certified Review Board-approved consent. Anchor wire technique was used in all patients to navigate catheters to the target vessel for aneurysm treatment. Results Anchor wire technique was successfully applied in all 10 cases using Center Wire. One device-related incident of vasospasm occurred which was asymptomatic. No device-related dissection, perforation, or thromboembolic events occurred. One patient had intraoperative aneurysm rupture during coil placement which was treated immediately without clinical consequences. Two patients had postoperative ischemic strokes due to thrombotic occlusion of branches originating from the aneurysm which were unrelated to the device. Conclusions This first-in-human trial of Center Wire demonstrated the safety and efficacy of the anchor wire technique for neuroendovascular treatment in a strictly regulated prospective registry trial.

OBJECTIVES Comorbidities are associated with a high burden of disease in people living with HIV (PLWH). The objective was to investigate the prevalence of chronic comorbidities and use of co-medications in PLWH in Japan. METHODS This study retrospectively analysed clinical information from PLWH receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) between April 2009 and March 2019. Demographic characteristics, numbers and types of chronic comorbidities, and numbers and types of non-ART co-medications, were described by age groups. The source of data was the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan (NDB). RESULTS Overall, 28 089 PLWH (male 91.9%) who used ART were identified. Out of 28 089 PLWH, 81.5% had at least one chronic comorbidity. The numbers of AIDS-defining cancers and non-AIDS-defining cancers in this Japanese cohort were 2432 (8.7%) and 2485 (8.8%), respectively. The cumulative burden of comorbidities including non-AIDS-defining cancer increased with age. Changes in trend between 2009 and 2019 were observed, including a higher proportion of PLWH diagnosed at ≥ 70 years old [2019 (4.7%) vs. 2009 (2.4%)] and a decreasing percentage of patients with AIDS-defining cancers (down from 6.3% to 4.8% between 2009 and 2019). The most common co-medications during the most recent 3-month period were lipid-regulating/anti-atheroma preparations (11.3%), antacids, antiflatulents and anti-ulcerants (9.6%), and agents acting on the renin-angiotensin system (8.1%). The three most common therapeutic categories of co-medications during the study period were antacids, antiflatulents and anti-ulcerants (35.0%), systemic antihistamines (33.7%) and psycholeptics (27.1%). More than 30% of PLWH aged > 40 years used at least one co-medication in a 3-month period, while more than half of PLWH aged > 30 years had at least one co-medication prescribed concomitantly for a total of ≥ 90 days during the study period, and the numbers of co-medications used were greater in the older age groups. CONCLUSIONS The burden of chronic comorbidities and co-medication were found to be greater in older, as compared to younger patients, among 28 089 PLWH in a nationwide study in Japan. This finding suggests the need to identify elderly PLWH and to appropriately manage their HIV and comorbidities.

To report the status of switch rates and time-to-switch of antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens by evaluating anchor drug classes and common switching patterns in Japanese people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, PLWH). This cross-sectional cohort study extracted data of 28,089 PLWH from the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan (NDB), which contains data representing the entire population of Japan. PLWH with first prescription records of ART administered between January 2011 and March 2019 were identified (n = 16,069). The median time-to-switch and switch rates of anchor drug classes were estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Brookmeyer-Crowley and Greenwood methods were used to estimate 95% confidence intervals for switch rates and median days, respectively. Switch rates were compared between anchor drug classes by year using log-rank tests. A total of 3,108 (19·3%) PLWH switched anchor drug classes from first to second regimens. Switch rates increased continuously over eight years for non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) (14·9%–65·5%) and protease inhibitors (PIs) (13·2%–67·7%), with median time-to-switch of 1,826 and 1,583 days, respectively. Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) maintained a low switch rate (3·0%–7·6%), precluding median-days calculation. The majority of patients treated initially with NNRTIs and PIs switched to INSTIs regardless of switching times (

Background Comorbidities are associated with a high burden of disease in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)- positive patients. The objective was to investigate the prevalence of chronic comorbidities and the use of co-medications in HIV-positive patients in Japan. Methods This longitudinal cohort study retrospectively analyzed clinical information from HIV-positive patients using antiretroviral therapy (ART) between April 2009 and April 2019. Demographic characteristics, numbers and types of chronic comorbidities and numbers and types of co-medications, were described by age groups. This is the first report to analyze comorbidities and the polypharmacy of all patients in the cross-sectional National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan (NDB), which contains data on the largest number of HIV-positive patients in Japan, available to date. Results Overall, 28,089 HIV-positive patients (male 91·9%) who used ART were identified. About 40% of 28,089 patients had at least one chronic comorbidity. The number of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining cancers and non-AIDS-defining cancers in this Japanese cohort was 2,432 (8·7%) and 2,485 (8·8%), respectively. The incidence of AIDS-defining cancers was 6·4% for non-Hodgkin lymphoma and 2·5% for Kaposi’s sarcoma, with bronchus or lung cancer being the most common of the non-AIDS-defining cancers. Syphilis was the most common infection (47·2%). The cumulative burden of vascular disease and AIDS-free cancer increased with age. The most common therapeutic categories of co-medications were systemic antibacterials (42%) and antacids, antiflatulents and antiulcerants (38·8%). Most of the patients used at least one co-medication (71·4%), and the numbers of co-medications used were greater in the older age groups. Conclusion The burden of chronic comorbidities and co-medication were found to be greater in older than younger patients, among 28,089 HIV-positive patients in a nationwide study in Japan. This finding suggests the need to identify elderly persons living with HIV and to appropriately manage their HIV and comorbidities. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Background Copolymer (Onyx) embolization is an effective treatment for dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF), however, some dAVFs have multiple, high-flow feeding vessels, resulting in insufficient embolization. For the treatment of such patients, we have developed a novel flow-control technique, the ‘damp-and-push technique’. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the technical efficiency and safety of this technique. Methods Seven patients who had been diagnosed with intracranial dAVF were treated by transarterial Onyx embolization using the damp-and-push technique between 2016 and 2019. This technique was designed to reduce blood flow to the shunt site using a balloon catheter in the major feeding vessel other than the one injected with Onyx, leading to better Onyx penetration and enabling more controlled embolization of complex dAVFs. Retrospectively collected data were reviewed to assess the occlusion rates and clinical outcomes. Results The dAVF was at a transverse sinus-sigmoid sinus junction in four patients, in the superior sagittal sinus in two, and in the tentorium in one. Five cases were Cognard type Ⅱb and two cases were Cognard type Ⅳ. All the patients were treated by transarterial Onyx injection via the main feeding vessel, combined with flow reduction in the other main feeding vessel using a balloon catheter. Complete occlusion was achieved in six patients and elimination of cerebral venous reflux was achieved in all the patients. There were no immediate or delayed post-interventional complications. Conclusions Transarterial Onyx embolization of dAVF using the damp-and-push technique is safe and yields a high complete occlusion rate.

Background: The aim of this study was to clarify the impact of limitations of activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic on diabetes management.Methods: To clarify the impacts of the emergency declared on April 7 2020, 345 patients, 1109 patients, and 752 patients whose HbA1c levels were measured in both March and April, May, or June were selected. The patients to be compared were selected from the 2019 data under the same conditions. In 2019, 469 patients, 1315 patients, and 783 patients whose HbA1c levels were measured in both March and April, May, or June were selected. The impact of restricted activity on diabetes management due to the declared emergencies was assessed by comparing HbA1c levels in April, May, and June minus the HbA1c levels in March of both 2019 and 2020. Subjects with a difference in HbA1c levels greater than 0 were defined as “worsened”, and subjects with a difference in HbA1c levels less than or equal to 0 were defined as “improved”. The deterioration rate and the improvement rate of the HbA1c level in 2019 and 2020 were compared by the Chi-squared test. Second, the linear trends of HbA1c from April to June between 2019 and 2020 were calculated by mixed model repeated measures ANOVA.Results: There were more patients with worsening HbA1c levels from March to April in 2020 than in 2019: 122 (26.0%) vs. 137 (39.7%), pConclusions: HbA1c levels did not appear to show persistent deterioration during the observational period in 2020. Meanwhile, some diabetic patients may have shown both improved and worsened diabetes control during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A combined experimental and theoretical investigation of Ag-Pt sub-nanometer clusters as heterogeneous catalysts in the CO→CO_2 reaction (COox) is presented. Ag_9Pt_2 and Ag_9Pt_3 clusters are size-selected in the gas phase, deposited on an ultrathin amorphous alumina support, and tested as catalysts experimentally under realistic conditions and by first-principles simulations at realistic coverage. In situ GISAXS/TPRx demonstrates that the clusters do not sinter or deactivate even after prolonged exposure to reactants at high temperature, and present comparable, extremely high COox catalytic efficiency. Such high activity and stability are ascribed to a synergic role of Ag and Pt in ultranano-aggregates, in which Pt anchors the clusters to the support and binds and activates two CO molecules, while Ag binds and activates O_2, and Ag/Pt surface proximity disfavors poisoning by CO or oxidized species.

Background: We present the rare case of a spontaneous intracranial subdural empyema caused by Helicobacter cinaedi in a preexisting chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). Case Description: A 72-year-old man with a history of the right CSDH that remained radiologically unchanged for the past 2 years with conservative management was transferred to our hospital because of fever and convulsive seizure. Systemic sources of infection were not identified. Fever and extremely high levels of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) spontaneously improved without antibacterial therapy. One month after the fever disappeared, brain computed tomography (CT) showed an increase in CSDH size. Mildly elevated CRP levels persisted without fever. Interval changes in shape on CT and hyperintense signals on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) within the CSDH were observed with no neurological deficits. Five months later, the patient underwent craniotomy for a progressively enlarged CSDH. An infected organized hematoma was found, and copious pus was evacuated. Subsequently, an infected subdural hematoma (ISH) was diagnosed. Although bacterial cultures of the purulent specimen were negative, H. cinaedi was identified by gene sequencing analysis. Six months post antibiotic therapy, the ISH was under control, and abnormal DWI signals disappeared. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of ISH caused by H. cinaedi. This case suggests that ISH can follow a chronic course, mimicking the progressive expansion of subdural hematoma, and that H. cinaedi should be considered as a causative organism of ISH especially when conventional cultures are negative.

Background Glioblastomas have been shown to rely on glycolysis as an energy source. However, recent evidence suggests that at least a subset of glioma cells with stem cell-like properties can thrive on oxidative phosphorylation. It remains unclear whether both metabolic phenotypes support tumor propagation, if they are independent, and how stable they are. The present study investigated these questions with the use of isogenic murine glioma stem cells (GSCs). Methods GSCs were established from tumors formed by Ink4a/Arf-null, H-RasV12-expressing glioma-initiating cells that differed in extracellular acidification potential. Metabolic characteristics of GSCs were determined by measurement of glucose, oxygen, and glutamine uptake, ATP content, and lactate production. Effects of metabolic inhibitors and changes in oxygen or nutrient availability on lactate production and tumorsphere growth were also determined. Results GSCs were found either to consume more glucose and produce more lactate or to consume more oxygen and maintain a higher ATP content depending on the metabolic characteristics of the tumor cells of origin. The latter, mitochondrial-type GSCs increased lactate production after treatment with the oxidative phosphorylation inhibitor oligomycin or phenformin. Exposure to hypoxia also increased lactate production and expression of glycolysis-related enzymes and metabolites in mitochondrial-type GSCs in a reversible manner. Conclusions Both glycolytic and mitochondrial-type energy production can sustain tumor propagation by isogenic GSCs. Whereas both phenotypes can be independent and stable, cells that rely on oxidative phosphorylation can also switch to a more glycolytic phenotype in response to metabolic stress, suggesting that plasticity is a further characteristic of GSC metabolism.

Endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma (EEA) is conventionally considered to be a single pathologic entity that develops through a hyperplasia-carcinoma sequence under the influence of estrogen. Previously, another EEA subtype was described and proposed to arise directly from normal endometrium. These conventional and de novo subtypes are designated groups 1 and 2, respectively. To identify the molecular mechanisms of these distinct tumorigenic processes, we conducted comprehensive integrated analyses of genomic data with hormonal status for group 1 paired carcinoma and hyperplasia and group 2 carcinoma samples. Although group 1 carcinomas mostly exhibited genomically stable characteristics and the activation of estrogen signaling, group 2 EEAs showed enriched hypermutator and CpG island methylator phenotypes. Pairwise comparisons of hyperplasia and carcinoma, along with time-course analyses of the hyperplasia-carcinoma sequence, revealed the acquisition of driver mutations in the evolutionary process of hyperplasia but not in the transition from hyperplasia to carcinoma. The current study confirms the existence of two different histopathologic programs during EEA development that harbor distinct molecular bases and demonstrates the biological relevance of these differential tumorigenic processes.

Objective Cerebellar gangliogliomas show different image findings and clinical behaviors from the supratentorial; however, their molecular basis and optimal managements remain to be elucidated. We report 3 children with cerebellar ganglioglioma and long-term survival, focusing on clinicopathological and radiological findings and genetic analyses. Patients and Methods We retrospectively analyzed 3 children with cerebellar ganglioglioma treated in our institute between 2000 and 2010. Immunohistochemical examinations were performed to determine the expression of KI-67, glial fibrillary acidic protein, synaptophysin, BRAF V600E and IDH-1 R132H mutated proteins. Standard Sanger sequencing was used to confirm BRAF, IDH-1/2, and Histone H3.3 mutations. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate MGMT promoter methylation. Results In all cases, magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an infiltrative tumor in cerebellar peduncle and hemisphere. All 3 children are alive (>12 years survival), and their residual tumors have been stable for more than 5 years after the treatments. Their tumors showed distinctive features of ganglioglioma with low Ki-67 index (2%–4%), positive for the BRAF V600E mutation, but negative for IDH1/2 mutations. The MGMT promoter methylation was observed in all of them. Conclusions Our study showed that all 3 children achieved long-term survival with residual tumors. These tumors might indicate a benign prognosis of pediatric cerebellar gangliogliomas, regardless of the infiltrating manifestation and the presence of BRAF mutation.

Hops are requisite materials that impart bitterness, hoppy aroma, and flavor to beer. The purpose of this study was to understand the effect of harvest time and pruning date on aroma characteristic...

Humulus lupulus (hop) cone is a key ingredient of beer, which determines its taste and aroma. Thus, it is necessary to control its cultivation conditions to acquire suitable quality. Here, cultivation conditions, such as pruning, blooming, and harvest timings, were modified for the Saaz hop variety in the Saaz region of Czech Republic. We investigated the correlation between the abovementioned cultivation factors and hop aroma characteristics, chemical components, appearance, yield, and beer quality in four locations and in three years. Harvest timing had a significant impact on the amount of essential oils, especially monoterpenes. Among them, linalool, geraniol and myrcene, which contribute beer hoppy aroma, increased with delay in harvest timing. These impacts caused by harvest timing were confirmed in all 4 locations and in all 3 years. Our findings suggest that harvest timing influences the intensity and quality of beer hoppy aroma.

Geometry of platinum clusters, PtN (N = 30–71), supported on a silicon substrate was investigated, aiming to control the geometry. The supported clusters were prepared by the impact of size-selected PtN+ onto the substrate at a given collision energy (cluster-impact deposition), and their geometry was observed by means of a scanning-tunneling microscope. Even at the collision energy of 1 eV per Pt atom, sufficiently strong Pt–Si interaction between PtN (N = 30 and 45) and the Si substrate allows them to be supported as close-packed monatomic-layered Pt disks, while at N = 60, multilayered shapes exist besides the monatomic-layered shape, the fraction of which increases at N = 71. When the collision energy is increased, Si atoms located at the interface between the cluster and Si substrate dissolve into the cluster, and with further increase in the collision energy, the Pt–Si cluster is partially implanted into the substrate. The transition in the shape of the supported clusters with the collision energy and the cluster size was explained according to the deformation of the clusters and the substrate surface by the cluster impact. It is proposed that the momentum of PtN+ per its cross section is a good index to control the geometry in the case of strong cluster-support interaction such as Pt and Si.

Medulloblastoma is the most common of the embryonal tumor arising in the cerebellum and the molecular mechanism of its oncogenesis has been revealed by recent studies. The constitutive expression of high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) is associated with a highly malignant phenotype and reduced survival in several malignancies. However, little is known about the clinical and biological significance of HMGA2 in medulloblastoma. In this study, we explore the expression, prognostic and therapeutic role of HMGA2 in medulloblastoma. HMGA1 and HMGA2 expressions were examined using immunohistochemistry in 20 patients with medulloblastoma. To examine the function of HMGA2 expression, knock-down HMGA2 expression was applied in Daoy, D283 and D341 cells. Overexpressions of HMGA1 and HMGA2 were frequently identified in medulloblastoma tissues. In addition, high expression of HMGA2 correlated with high proliferation marker Ki-67 labeling index. High expression of HMGA2 was significantly associated with progression free survival and overall survival of patients with medulloblastoma (p=0.021 and p=0.016, respectively). Functional experiments confirmed that knock-down of HMGA2 resulted in inhibited cell proliferation, migration/invasion and enhanced apoptosis in vitro. In conclusion, HMGA2 overexpression is frequent in medulloblastoma, and its expression is related to proliferation marker and poor prognosis. These findings suggest that HMGA2 could serve as a potential target for future therapeutic strategies in medulloblastoma.

Studied were cluster-size dependence of catalytic activity of CO oxidation driven by unisized platinum clusters, PtN (N = 10, 30, and 60), directly bound to a silicon substrate surface. Temperature-programmed desorption measurements were repeated for a given PtN/Si catalyst with systematic change of the reaction condition. The CO oxidation on the PtN/Si catalyst is described in a manner similar to the bulk Pt(111) surface; the Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism by molecular oxygen activated by the catalyst at 120–140 K (α reaction) and the dissociatively adsorbed atomic oxygen in the temperature range of 130–350 K (β reaction). However, the PtN/Si catalyst has the advantage of a lower-temperature activity compared with the bulk Pt(111) surface. Furthermore, the Pt60/Si catalyst has 1.5 times higher activity per Pt atom than Pt30/Si, while no catalytic activity for the Pt10/Si sample. These results are interpreted in relation to the geometric structure and the electron accumulation of the Pt clusters on the Si...

Thermal behavior of Pt10 and Pt1 bound to a silicon substrate prepared by the impact of size-selected Pt cluster ions at 1 eV per Pt atom was investigated. Their height and diameter were obtained by statistical analysis of their images using scanning-tunneling microscopy. The Pt10 are stably bound to the Si surface as monatomic-layered Pt10Si x disks with insertion of Si atoms into the clusters at the moment of the impact, and they start to be decomposed between 623 and 673 K under vacuum conditions. The thermal stability of the Pt10Si x disks is comparable to that of a Pt thin film prepared on a Si substrate, but inferior to that of Pt30 disks on the Si substrate. Comparing with thermal behavior of Pt atoms and a PtSi thin film on the Si substrate, it has been concluded that more Si atoms start to diffuse into a Pt10Si x disk between 623 and 673 K, while they do not into a Pt30 disk having a close-packed arrangement of the Pt atoms as high as 673 K, owing to a higher barrier for the Si insertion into the close-packed cluster disk than into the Pt10Si x disk having a longer Pt-Pt internuclear distance.

OBJECTIVEMedulloblastoma is a type of malignant tumor arising in the cerebellum. The clinical importance of programmed cell death 1 ligand–1 (PD-L1) expression in medulloblastoma remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to examine the expression of PD-L1 and tumor-infiltrating T cells, and to evaluate their relationships to the prognosis of patients with medulloblastoma.METHODSThe authors immunohistochemically analyzed PD-L1 expression and CD3+ and CD8+ lymphocyte infiltrations in tumor specimens from 16 patients with medulloblastoma.RESULTSHigh expression of PD-L1 was observed in 9 (56.3%) of 16 samples studied. High expression of PD-L1 was associated with low infiltrations of CD3+ or CD8+ lymphocytes. Patients with high expression of PD-L1 had shorter progression-free survival and overall survival times than those with low expression (p = 0.076 and p = 0.099, respectively). In addition, patients with high expression of PD-L1 and with low infiltration of CD8+ lymphocytes had a significantly worse outcome, with a 5-year survival rate of 15%, as compared with the other patients, who had a 5-year survival rate of nearly 90% (p = 0.0048 for progression-free survival and p = 0.010 for overall survival).CONCLUSIONSThese findings indicate that PD-L1 expression was associated with a reduced infiltration of CD8+ T cells and poor prognosis in human medulloblastoma.

We have successfully accumulated electrons in a subnano-space according to the Schottky barrier junction between a subnano metal cluster and a semiconductor surface. The scanning–tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy measurements depicted spatial distributions of the accumulated charges. Taking advantages of their large charge-transfer efficiency to molecules, novel catalytic functions driven by the subnano-space charges were studied by means of ultrahigh-sensitive temperature-programmed desorption mass spectroscopy. As a representative function, we have found high-performance catalytic activity of Pt30 monatomic-layered disks constructed on the Si(111) surface in CO oxidation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Catalytic activity of thermal CO oxidation was studied for monatomic-layered platinum cluster disks, Pt30, bonded to the (111) surface of a silicon substrate. Temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) measurements were repeated for a given cluster sample with a systematic change in the reactant amounts supplied, and the peaks observed in the TPD spectra were deconvoluted so as to obtain probabilities of individual reactions. It was concluded that this system possesses an ability of low-temperature reductive activation of oxygen molecules, which is one of the critical steps in the CO oxidation. This high performance is explained in terms of negative charges accumulated at a sub-nano interface between the cluster disk and the silicon substrate surface as a result of their strong electronic interaction.

Nanomorphology of sterically stabilized polypyrrole-palladium nanocomposite particles has been extensively characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). High-resolution TEM studies revealed that non-spherical nanocomposite particles were produced with a Heywood diameter of ∼30 nm and also confirmed the existence of palladium nanocrystals with a diameter of 5.4 nm within the particles. SAXS studies on aqueous dispersions of the nanocomposite particles confirmed good colloidal stability and revealed 5.0 and 23 nm as average diameters for the Pd nanoparticles and the nanocomposite particles, respectively.

We investigated catalytic activity of CO oxidation by monatomic-layered cluster disks, Pt30, bonded to a silicon substrate by means of ultrahigh-sensitive temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) mass-spectrometry. It was found in the repeated TPD measurements with various reactant-exposure amounts that this cluster-substrate system possesses high ability of low-temperature reductive activation of oxygen molecules, which is the rate-determining step of the CO oxidation. This high-performance is explained in terms of negative charges accumulated at a subnano interface between the cluster disk and the silicon substrate surface.

Black tea is reported to have various beneficial effects on health. Activated charcoal-treated black tea (ACBT) did not contain catechins nor caffeine and included small amount of theaflavins (TFs). We had further fractionated ACBT to obtain black tea polymerized polyphenols (BTPP), TFs-poor fraction and TFs-rich fraction and studied in vitro and/or in vivo effect of the fractions to elucidate the effect of ACBT. Sucrose-loading test in mice showed that ACBT and BTPP at the dose of, 1000 and 560 mg/kg, respectively, suppressed the increase of blood glucose level while secretion of insulin was not affected. We found that this effect is caused by inhibition of α-glucosidase activity. BTPP contained TFs, but the content was not at all enough to explain the activity of ACBT, 1H NMR analysis of BTPP was carried and showed the existence of many benzotropolone ring containing substances as active compounds.

Aqueous chemical oxidative dispersion polymerizations of pyrrole using PdCl2 oxidant were conducted using water-soluble polymeric colloidal stabilizers in order to synthesize polypyrrole–palladium (PPy–Pd) nanocomposite particles in one step. PPy–Pd nanocomposite particles with number average diameters of approximately 30 nm were successfully obtained as colloidally stable aqueous dispersions, which were stable at least for 7 months, using poly(4-lithium styrene sulfonic acid) colloidal stabilizer. The resulting nanocomposite particles were extensively characterized with respect to particle size, size distribution, colloidal stability, nanomorphology, surface/bulk chemical compositions, and conductivity. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated the existence of poly(styrene sulfonic acid) colloidal stabilizer on the surface of the nanocomposite particles. Transmission electron microscopy studies confirmed that nanometer-sized Pd nanoparticles were distributed in the PPy matrix.

Polymerization of C60 , Ce2@C80 , and Lu2@C76 metallofullerenes induced by electron injection from a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) tip has been studied. C60 polymerization has been observed only with C60 multilayer on Au (111) and not with C60 monolayer on Au (111). The Ce2@C80 metallofullerene on Si (111)-7 × 7 also polymerizes by electron injection but has less polymerization reactivity than C60 . Interestingly, the Lu2@C76 metallofullerene on Si (111)-7 × 7 does not show any polymerization. Based on these STM observations on the tip-induced polymerization, the direction of the bond formation and the dependence of reactivity on the kind of fullerenes are discussed.

We report pulsed-jet deposition of single-wall and double-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs and DWNTs; CNTs) onto a clean Cu(111) surface and their scanning tunneling microscopy(STM) observations under ultra-high vacuum (UHV). The clean Cu(111) surface prepared by a repeated Ar-sputtering and annealing is introduced into a load-lock chamber kept at a 10−5-Pa range vacuum, and the CNTs dispersed in a chloroform solution byultrasonication are pulse-injected onto the surface. Since the substrate is annealed at 700 K to remove the residual solvent molecules, high resolution lattice images of the CNTs are successfullyobserved bySTM. High-resolution chirality-resolved images of the two SWNTs with a metal cluster are also observed, supporting the well accepted growth mechanism of the CNTs from the metal-catalyst cluster. The present pulsed-jet deposition in high-vacuum is superior to the conventional spin-coating or drop-coating techniques for preparing clean and well-defined CNTs on clean surfaces for high-resolution and contamination-free UHV-STM observation.