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This article discusses the use of texture and color enhancement imaging (TXI) in the detection of small gastric adenocarcinomas of fundic-gland type (GA-FGs). The study focuses on a man in his 60s who underwent endoscopic resection for multiple superficial GA-FGs. During a follow-up gastroscopy, new suspicious lesions were detected using TXI that were not visible on previous endoscopies. The study concludes that TXI can improve the detection of subtle gastric lesions like GA-FGs, which may be missed using conventional imaging techniques. [Extracted from the article]

This paper reports the numerical investigation of plasma properties for the microwave discharge ion thruster μ10. The model consists of a particle in cell simulation and a Monte Carlo collision simulation. The results indicate that the plasma density and the electron temperature in the confined region are larger than those in other regions and are qualitatively consistent with probe measurements. Moreover, we traced the trajectories of charged particles to investigate the plasma generation and transport. The electron trajectories indicate that electrons are strongly confined by the mirror magnetic field and the sheath, which indicates that the confinement depends on the electron energy. As a result, the electron energy distribution function is a combination of two Maxwellian distributions. Although the hot electrons account for 3.4% of all electrons, they account for 50.1% of the ionization and can generate plasma with an excitation loss of 1/3 of that of cold electrons. The ion trajectories indicate that they are affected by the magnetic field. To investigate the effect of the magnetic field on the transport, we evaluate the ion and electron current percentage toward the wall and compare with the wall surface percentage. The ion and electron current ratios differ because of diffusion with respect to the magnetic field. The ion current percentage is larger than the surface area percentage in the grid, which indicates that ions are transported to the grid more efficiently due to the magnetic field. Therefore, the effect on ions by the magnetic field is one of the most important criteria for microwave discharge ion thrusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract To improve the performance of the 10-cm-class microwave discharge ion thruster μ10 for use in future deep space exploration missions planned by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), a new discharge chamber was designed, and its performance was tested. The maximum beam current in the new discharge chamber geometry was 16% higher than that in the original geometry, which was used in the Hayabusa 2 space explorer, under the same discharge power. To investigate the reason for this performance improvement, the multi-charged ion ratio in the plume, the beam current density profiles, and the ion current in the discharge chamber were measured by probes. It was found that the multi-charged ion efficiency and the beam divergence efficiency in the redesigned configuration were not significantly different from those in the Hayabusa 2 configuration. This shows that the increase in the ion beam current enhances the thrust. In addition, it was confirmed that the total ion current inside the new discharge chamber is higher than that in the Hayabusa 2 configuration. The ion extraction efficiency, however, was lower than that in the Hayabusa 2 configuration. This suggests that the increase in the total ion current per unit of incident microwave power is the cause of the performance improvement. In the redesigned configuration, the thrust is 12.0 mN, the specific impulse is 3122 s, the discharge loss is 162 W/A, and the propulsion efficiency is 39.6% at the peak performance point. Highlights • An ion beam current increase of 16% was obtained by redesigning the discharge chamber of the μ10 thruster. • It was verified by E×B probe measurement that the beam current improvement was not due to multi-charged ion current. • It was confirmed by electrostatic probe measurement that total plasma current was increased. • A thrust of 12 mN and a total efficiency of 39.6% have been achieved at the peak performance point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MRSA clinical practice guidelines, which include a recommended treatment for MRSA infections, could be considered important clinical practice guidelines for both clinicians and pharmaceutical companies in the area of infectious diseases. Surprisingly, some authors failed to accurately declare their financial conflicts of interest, and employees of anti-MRSA drug companies joined as the advisory authors of the MRSA clinical practice guidelines, suggesting significant negligence in the management of conflicts of interests. To the best of our knowledge no previous study has analysed the financial relationships of clinical practice guideline committee members of infectious diseases, and this study revealed for the first time that manufacturers of anti-MRSA drugs made large payments to Japanese MRSA clinical practice guidelines authors, totalling nearly €240 000. Hence, medical societies in Japan should carefully screen authors of clinical practice guidelines - including but not limited to the MRSA clinical practice guidelines - to improve their credibility among the general public. [Extracted from the article]

We discuss the dynamics of parton cascades that develop in dense QCD matter, and contrast their properties with those of similar cascades of gluon radiation in vacuum. We argue that such cascades belong to two distinct classes that are characterized respectively by an increasing or a constant (or decreasing) branching rate along the cascade. In the former class, of which the BDMPS, medium-induced, cascade constitutes a typical example, it takes a finite time to transport a finite amount of energy to very soft quanta, while this time is essentially infinite in the latter case, to which the DGLAP cascade belongs. The medium induced cascade is accompanied by a constant flow of energy towards arbitrary soft modes, leading eventually to the accumulation of the initial energy of the leading particle at zero energy. It also exhibits scaling properties akin to wave turbulence. These properties do not show up in the cascade that develops in vacuum. There, the energy accumulates in the spectrum at smaller and smaller energy as the cascade develops, but the energy never flows all the way down to zero energy. Our analysis suggests that the way the energy is shared among the offsprings of a splitting gluon has little impact on the qualitative properties of the cascades, provided the kernel that governs the splittings is not too singular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review recent theoretical developments in the study of the structure of jets that are produced in ultra relativistic heavy ion collisions. The core of the review focusses on the dynamics of the parton cascade that is induced by the interactions of a fast parton crossing a quark-gluon plasma. We recall the basic mechanisms responsible for medium induced radiation, underline the rapid disappearance of coherence effects, and the ensuing probabilistic nature of the medium induced cascade. We discuss how large radiative corrections modify the classical picture of the gluon cascade, and how these can be absorbed in a renormalization of the jet quenching parameter . Then, we analyze the (wave)-turbulent transport of energy along the medium induced cascade, and point out the main characteristics of the angular structure of such a cascade. Finally, color decoherence of the in-cone jet structure is discussed. Modest contact with phenomenology is presented towards the end of the review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/objectives:To examine the influence of season and climate (air temperature and humidity) on water intake by the food group in a sample of free-living Japanese adults.Subjects/methods:Four-nonconsecutive-day, semi-weighed dietary records were collected from each of the four seasons in a single 12-month period (16 days in total). The influence of season and climate on individual water intake by the food group was analyzed using a mixed linear model. Participants were 242 healthy adults (121 women aged 30-69 years and 121 men aged 30-76 years) from four areas in Japan.Results:For women and men together, the mean total water intake was 2230 g/day (highest in summer: 2331 g/day; lowest in winter: 2134 g/day). Fifty-one percent of water was derived from foods and the rest from beverages. In a mixed linear model adjusted for sex, age and body mass index, intake of water from foods decreased by 3.1 g/day and that from beverages increased by 8.4 g/day, with an increase in the mean outdoor air temperature on the survey day of 1 °C (both P<0.0001). The influence of humidity was nonsignificant.Conclusions:In contrast to previous findings in Western countries, half of water intake in Japanese adults was derived from foods. Water intake from beverages was positively associated with air temperature, whereas that from foods was inversely associated with air temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the angular broadening of a medium-induced QCD cascade. We derive the equation that governs the evolution of the average transverse momentum squared of the gluons in the cascade as a function of the medium length, and we solve this equation analytically. Two regimes are identified. For a medium of a not too large size, and for not too soft gluons, the transverse momentum grows with the size of the medium according to standard momentum broadening. The other regime, visible for a medium of a sufficiently large size and very soft gluons, is a regime dominated by multiple branchings: there, the average transverse momentum saturates to a value that is independent of the size of the medium. This structure of the in-medium QCD cascade is, at least qualitatively, compatible with the recent LHC data on dijet asymmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of doping carrier transporting materials being used for organic light emitting diodes was investigated in bulk-heterojunction photovoltaic devices composed of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and a perylene bisimide (PBI) derivative. We found that the doping of 4,4’-bis(carbazol-9-yl)biphenyl (CBP) can improve the short circuit current and fill factor with a doping concentration of 2.5wt%, resulting in an increase of power conversion efficiency from 0.14% to 0.28%. This effect is mainly attributable to the improvement of miscibility between P3HT and PBI. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background The Japanese Red Cross (JRC) conducted a prospective study to evaluate the frequency of transfusion-transmitted HBV, HCV and HIV infections to assess the risk of transfusion of blood components routinely supplied to hospitals. Study Design and Methods Post-transfusion specimens from patients at eight medical institutes were examined for evidence of infection with HBV (2139 cases), HCV (2091) and HIV (2040) using individual nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT). If these specimens were reactive, pre-transfusion specimens were also examined for the virus concerned by individual NAT. In the event that the pre-transfusion specimen was non-reactive, then all repository specimens from implicated donors were tested for the viruses by individual donation NAT. In addition, a further study was carried out to evaluate the risk of transfusion of components from donors with low anti-HBc titres or high anti-HBc with high anti-HBs titres. Results Transfusion-transmitted HCV and HIV infections were not observed. One case of post-transfusion HBV infection was identified (rate, 0·0004675; 95% CI for the risk of transmission, 1 in 451-41 841). The background rates of HBV, HCV and HIV infections in patients prior to transfusion were 3·4% (72/2139), 7·2% (150/2091) and 0% (0/2040), respectively. Sixty-four anti-HBc- and/or anti-HBs-reactive blood components were transfused to 52 patients non-reactive for anti-HBc or anti-HBs before and after transfusion (rate, 0; 95% CI for the risk of transmission, <1 in 22). Conclusion This study demonstrated that the current criteria employed by JRC have a low risk, but the background rates of HBV and HCV infections in Japanese patients are significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabet. Med. 29, 492-500 (2012) Abstract Aims Skin autofluorescence, a non-invasive measure of the accumulation for advanced glycation end products, has been reported to be a useful marker for diabetic vascular risks in the Caucasian population. The aim of this study was to evaluate associations between skin autofluorescence and vascular complications in non-Caucasian patients with Type 2 diabetes. Methods Subjects in this cross-sectional study comprised 130 Japanese patients with Type 2 diabetes. Skin advanced glycation end products were assessed by skin autofluorescence using an autofluorescence reader. Association between skin autofluorescence and severity of vascular complications was evaluated. Results Of the 130 patients, 60 (46.2%) had microvascular complications such as diabetic retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy, 10 (7.7%) had macrovascular complications and 63 (48.5%) had micro- and/or macrovascular complications. Skin autofluorescence increased with severity of vascular complications. Independent determinants of skin autofluorescence were age (β = 0.24, P < 0.01), mean HbA1c in previous year (β = 0.17, P = 0.03), microvascular complications (β = 0.44, P < 0.01) and macrovascular complications (β = 0.27, P < 0.01). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that diabetes duration (odds ratio 1.15, P < 0.01), systolic blood pressure (odds ratio 1.04, P = 0.01), skin autofluorescence (odds ratio 3.62, P = 0.01) and serum albumin (odds ratio 0.84, P < 0.01) were independent factors for the presence of vascular complications in these patients. Conclusions Skin autofluorescence had independent effects on vascular complications in Japanese patients with Type 2 diabetes. This indicates that skin advanced glycation end products are a surrogate marker for vascular risk and a non-invasive autofluorescence reader may be a useful tool to detect high-risk cases in non-Caucasian patients with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare blood types are generally defined as those that occur at a frequency of 1 : 1000 or less. However, some rare blood types have much different frequencies in global regions or specific ethnic groups. This review explores rare blood types in the following categories: rare blood types that lack high-frequency antigens and where to find them, rare blood types that express low-frequency antigens, rare blood types with higher or lower frequencies in the Asia Pacific region and rare blood types that are difficult to find in the Asia Pacific region but are provided by the JRC. In addition, the study of rare blood types has revealed clinical correlations with disease states and resistance to infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is concerned with the thermoelectromechanical fracture behavior of two coplanar cracks in a piezoelectric material strip under a uniform heat flow far away from the crack region. The crack faces are supposed to be insulated thermally and electrically. Fourier transforms are used to reduced the mixed boundary value problems to singular integral equations. Numerical calculations are carried out, and detailed results are presented to illustrate the influence of the geometric parameters on the thermal stress intensity factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated the gauge field of a fast moving projectile passing through a dense medium. We provide a simple and unified derivation, in light cone gauge, of the gluon production cross-section in proton-nucleus (initial state interactions), and the radiative gluon spectrum of a hard parton produced in a nucleus-nucleus collision (final state interactions). Finally, we discuss the validity of the eikonal approximation in proton-nucleus collisions at RHIC energies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Pulsed neutron diffraction was carried out to analyze an intramolecular structure of D 3 PO 3 and an orientational characteristic of adjacent molecules in D 3 PO 3 - n D 2 O ( n =0, 1 and 20) solutions by using the high intensity total scattering spectrometer in High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) at Tsukuba, Japan. The radial distribution method and the correlation method were employed for the analysis of structural parameters such as interatomic distances, coordination numbers and temperature factors, being consulted with those by simulations. The intramolecular structure of the phosphorous acid in the liquid state did not differ much from that in the crystalline state. In the liquid phosphorous acid, two intramolecular P-O bonds were recognized, the shorter P-O bond being assigned to the P-O double bond and the longer P-O to the single bond. On addition of heavy water, the coordination numbers of the intramolecular P-O correlations, i.e. both the shorter P-O double bond and the longer P-O single bond, increased a little. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nACh-R) agonists such as (-)-nicotine and related compounds on brain monoamine turnover. A single administration of (-)-nicotine (0.04, 0.2, 1.0, and 5.0 mg/kg SC) increased both noradrenaline (NA) and dopamine (DA) turnover in a dose-dependent manner, and the maximum effects were achieved 30 min after treatment with (-)-nicotine (1.0 mg/kg). The effect of (-)-nicotine on serotonin (5-HT) turnover was complicated; 5-HT turnover was increased at a low dose of (-)-nicotine (0.04 mg/kg) but decreased at a high dose (1.0 mg/kg). The (-)-nicotine (1.0 mg/kg)-induced changes in monoamine turnover were blocked by pretreatment with the centrally acting nACh-R channel blocker mecamylamine (2.0 mg/kg IP) but not by hexamethonium (2.0 mg/kg IP). These findings indicate that systemically administered (-)-nicotine can enhance brain NA and DA turnover and affect 5-HT turnover, both of which are mediated by central nACh-R. The changes in the monoamine turnover induced by (+/-)-anabasine were similar to those induced by (-)-nicotine, while (-)-lobeline and (-)-cytisine had little effect, and 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenyl-piperazinium (DMPP) increased NA and 5-HT turnover but not DA turnover at all doses tested. (S)-3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl2-pyrrolidinyl)-isoxazole (ABT-418), a selective neuronal nACh-R agonist, increased NA, DA and 5-HT turnover, but had a weaker effect on DA turnover than NA and 5-HT turnover. In addition, 9-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine (THA), an acetylcholine esterase inhibitor, also increased monoamine turnover in the brain. Pretreatment with mecamylamine completely blocked the THA-induced increase in NA and 5-HT turnover, but not in DA turnover, suggesting that the nACh-R system is involved in the THA-induced increase in brain NA and 5-HT turnover. On the other hand, (-)-cytisine, a partial agonist for the beta 2 subunit containing nACh-R, completely inhibited the nA [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Looks at the potential association of tyrosine phosphorylation with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cytopathicity. Role of protein tyrosine phosphorylation as signal; Results of experiment; Impact of inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation by inhibitor herbimycin A; Specific intracellular signals generated by HIV.

The proportion of B lymphocyte subsets with surface immunoglobulin G (sIgG) was significantly increased in minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS), membranous nephropathy, IgA nephropathy and mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis (MCON) and with sIgA in IgA nephropathy and MCGN, and with sIgE in MCNS. Increased subsets in membranous nephropathy, IgA nephropathy and MCGN corresponded to the immunoglobulins deposited in the glomeruli, and the increased subset of sIgE in MCNS was correlated with the elevation of serum IgE. These results suggest that each disease studied has a characteristic subset pattern of B lymphocyte response. This may have an important rote in determining the histological type of idiopathic glomerulonephritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report ultraviolet (UV) electroluminescence (EL) at 3.30 eV of colloidal ZnO quantum dots (QDs) in an inorganic multilayer thin-film EL device. The EL spectrum was identical to the photoluminescence spectrum of the source solution of ZnO QDs, and the emission is attributable to quantum confined electron hole pair recombination. The UV emission was successful when the ZnO QD layer was sandwiched by thin MgO layers, while only a defect-related visible emission appeared without MgO layers. The type-I quantum well structure of MgO/ZnO/MgO and surface passivation of ZnO QDs by MgO must be important for the UV EL emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The biogenic manganese oxide coating on the surface of a riverbed pebble was analyzed by means of secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM observation combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) confirmed that the coating consisted mainly of manganese oxide (thickness, 5μm to a few tens of micrometers). SIMS and XPS analyses of the pebble surface suggested that the coating also contains iron oxides, silicate minerals and carbonaceous materials. The Mn 2p photoelectron spectrum indicated that the manganese oxide consists mainly of Mn(IV). Depth profiling by SIMS showed that the secondary ion intensities of Mn and Si increased and decreased, respectively, with sputtering time, which confirmed that the surface of the coating contains silicate mineral particles. In addition, the depth profile of Mn showed an oscillating pattern, suggesting a fine structure of the biogenic manganese oxide coating. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We have investigated the physical properties of compounds with pyrochlore crystal structure. The solid-solution compounds of show from metallic to insulating behaviors. These compounds with also indicate the spin-glass like behaviors at low temperature which are attributed to the geometrical frustration on pyrochlore lattice. The transition temperature decreases monotonously with decreasing x and goes to zero at . The sample with shows the metal–insulator (MI) transition at 10–30K where the sign of temperature derivative of electric resistivity changes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We study the average properties of the gluon cascade generated by an energetic parton propagating through a quark-gluon plasma. We focus on the soft, medium-induced emissions which control the energy transport at large angles with respect to the leading parton. We show that the effect of multiple branchings is important. In contrast with what happens in a usual QCD cascade in vacuum, medium-induced branchings are quasidemocratic, with offspring gluons carrying sizable fractions of the energy of their parent gluon. This results in an efficient mechanism for the transport of energy toward the medium, which is akin to wave turbulence with a scaling spectrum ∼1/√ω. We argue that the turbulent flow may be responsible for the excess energy carried by very soft quanta, as revealed by the analysis of the dijet asymmetry observed in Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We study the gluon distribution in nucleus–nucleus collisions in the framework of the Color Glass Condensate. Approximate analytical solutions are compared to numerical solutions of the nonlinear Yang–Mills equations. We find that the full numerical solution can be well approximated by taking the full initial condition of the fields in Coulomb gauge and using a linearized solution for the time evolution. We also compare -factorized approximations to the full solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been suggested that Proteus infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Bacterial and peptide immune responses in patients with RA and other control subjects were investigated in two geographically different populations. Serum samples from Finnish patients with early (n=72) and advanced (n=27) RA and 30 Finnish healthy controls, as well as from Japanese RA patients from two different locations: Tokyo (n=30) and Otsu (n=30), 18 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 23 Japanese healthy controls were all screened for the total, and class-specific (IgG, IgA and IgM) antibodies against Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens by indirect immunofluorescence assay. These samples were also tested for the determination of levels of isotypic antibodies against the shared epitope involving 16-mer synthetic peptides containing the EQRRAA or ESSRAL sequences and compared to scrambled control peptide by using an enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay method. Significantly elevated levels of IgG and IgM antibodies to P. mirabilis and antibodies against both EQRRAA and ESSRAL peptides were detected in sera of Finnish patients with early and advanced RA, and in Japanese patients from Otsu or Tokyo compared to their corresponding control groups. In contrast, no difference either in the total or in any of the isotypic antibodies were observed between these groups when serum samples were screened against each of E. coli and S. marcescens or against the control peptide. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between the antibody levels against Proteus bacteria only and both EQRRAA and ESRRAL peptides. Our findings support the possibility for specific involvement of P. mirabilis in the etiopathogenesis of RA even in early cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exfoliated carbon fibers (ExCFs) were prepared by the decomposition of intercalation compounds with nitric acid derived from pitch-based carbon fibers and used as electrodes of electrochemical capacitors in sulfuric acid electrolyte. The specific capacitance, which was estimated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge (CD) measurements, increased gradually with the concentration of the electrolyte up to10 mol/dm3 and then rapidly to huge value in higher concentration of electrolyte. The capacitance obtained for a sample with the largest specific surface area (ca. 300 m2/g) was 450 F/g, which was calculated from the 50th discharge curve of CD experiment. The results suggest the possibility of pseudo-capacitance by the intercalation of sulfuric acid molecules into graphite gallery of ExCFs electrode. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Thirty-two adult patients with minimal change nephritic syndrome (MCNS) were studied in order to clarify the characteristics of the immune system in MCNS and their relation to clinical activity. In the active phase (n = 17), serum immunoglobulin (Ig) M and E levels, B lymphocytes (surface Ig-positive cells) and their subsets, surface IgG, IgM and IgE positive cells; Bγ, Bμ and B∊, were increased, whereas the serum IgG level and OKT3-reactive cells, peripheral T lymphocytes; T3, were decreased. In the remitted phase maintained by steroid therapy (n = 17), serum Igs and and B lymphocytes subsets tended to return to normal levels concomitant with decreases in T3 and T4, and an increase in T8 in consequence of a marked decrease in T4/T8 (helper/suppressor) ratio. In stable remission continuing with no steroid therapy (n = 14), the above abnormalities returned to normal ranges, except for serum IgM which remained at a high level and re-elevated serum IgE. These results suggest that immunological abnormalities in MCNS are characterized by acceleration of the IgE and IgM producing systems and impaired maturation of the IgG producing system despite normal differentiation from the IgM producing to IgG producing system, possibly caused by T lymphocyte dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of genotyping of the ABCG2 gene using MALDI‐TOF MS and to estimate the allele frequency in the Japanese population. Background: Jr (a−) phenotype has a prevalence of approximately 0·05% among Japanese blood donors; DNA‐based genotyping was conducted to investigate the molecular basis of the Jr (a−) phenotype along with serological typing. To detect all SNPs of the ABCG2 gene, a high‐throughput SNP genotyping platform is needed. Methods: Overall, 1004 Jr (a−) blood samples were collected from blood donors in Japan and pre‐genotyped. To detect the SNPs of the ABCG2 gene using MALDI‐TOF MS, polymerase chain reaction and unextend primer were designed. In total, 205 Jr (a−) samples were genotyped using MALDI‐TOF MS analysis. Results: The SNPs of 1004 Jr (a−) samples were identified using the HRM analysis and DNA sequencing, and 799 of 1004 (80%) Jr (a−) samples had the homozygous for c.376 T. The designed primers for MALDI‐TOF MS perfectly detected the SNPs of the ABCG2 gene. A total of 205 Jr (a−) samples were genotyped using MALDI‐TOF MS. Calling failures occurred in only two samples with the mutations c.736CT to c.376C and c.421C to c.421CA. The concordance rate between the pre‐genotyped and MALDI‐TOF MS‐based genotyping results was very high (99·02%) for all ABCG2 alleles. Conclusions: Jr (a‐) Japanese donors had almost the homozygous for c.376 T. However, detections of more than 20 SNPs of the ABCG2 gene for the JR blood group genotyping are needed. MALDI‐TOF MS‐based genotyping was highly concordant with the pre‐genotyped results for all ABCG2 alleles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses an international forum from the journal "Vox Sanguinis" about donor notification and counselling techniques for transfusion-transmissible infections markers. Topics include notifying donors on positive screening test on the blood that has been donated, the role of counselling and donor notification in both blood safety and donor care, and the important elements for a notification message.

The article discusses an international forum from the journal "Vox Sanguinis" about donor notification and counselling techniques for markers of transfusion-transmissible infections. Topics include the requirement under the Food and Drugs Act or Blood Regulations in Canada, informing the blood donors about biological abnormalities, and notifying donors with positive results of testing for infectious markers in Hong Kong, China.

The Working Party has met twice since the last report: in Seoul, South Korea 2014, and in London, UK 2015, both in association with the International Society of Blood Transfusion ( ISBT) Congress. As in previous meetings, matters pertaining to blood group antigen nomenclature were discussed. Eleven new blood group antigens were added to seven blood group systems. This brings the current total of blood group antigens recognized by the ISBT to 346, of which 308 are clustered within 36 blood groups systems. The remaining 38 antigens are currently unassigned to a known blood group system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Molecular analyses of Rhnull individuals have revealed that abnormalities occur only at the RH or RHAG gene. Rhnull phenotype arises from two distinct genetic mechanisms, the amorph and the regulator type. Here, we genetically analysed a Japanese Rhnull family and identified a novel RHAG mutation. Materials and Methods RBC samples from two family members were phenotyped using the standard serological techniques and BLOODchip Reference for the predicted phenotype. Scanning electron micrographs of red blood cells ( RBCs) were generated. All 10 RHAG exons were subjected to DNA sequencing. Results RBCs in 2 Rhnull samples did not contain Rh or Rh AG antigens. The screening tests for irregular RBC antibodies identified anti-Rh29 in 2 samples and anti-C+e in the older sister of the proband. A molecular base analysis revealed a novel c.790C>T (p.Arg263X) mutation in exon 5 of RHAG gene. Conclusion The samples with the novel c.790C>T (p.Arg263X) mutation in exon 5 of the RHAG gene were identified as regulator type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives At Japanese Red Cross ( JRC) Blood Centers, all donated blood is screened for hepatitis C virus ( HCV) by serological and nucleic acid amplification testing. Donor plasma that tested reactive for anti- HCV by serological test is disqualified even if the donor tests negative for HCV RNA. These test results reflect both true-positive results because of past HCV infection and false-positive results because the cross-reactivity of plasma IgG, which current testing methods are unable to distinguish. To characterize these antibody test results, we examined the neutralizing activity of these plasma samples. Material and Methods Donor plasma samples that tested reactive for anti- HCV by serological test but negative for HCV RNA ( n = 43) were analysed for determining their neutralizing activities measured by the inhibition of the cellular entry of pseudoparticles harbouring HCV envelope glycoproteins ( HCVpp). Results Strong and broad neutralizing activities against HCVpp entry similar to the samples that tested reactive for anti- HCV serological test and positive for HCV RNA (considered to be derived from individuals with chronic HCV infection) were observed in three of 43 plasma samples from donors who tested anti- HCV reactive but HCV RNA negative. Conclusion By examining the neutralizing activities of plasma samples, we identified individuals with a past HCV infection from those in whom we were unable to confirm HCV infection according to the current testing algorithms of JRC, which do not perform anti- HCV confirmatory tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives We developed a hollow-fibre column system specifically adapted to prepare washed platelet concentrates ( WPCs). This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of the hollow-fibre column system for preparing WPCs. Materials and Methods First, the percentages of platelet ( PLT) recovery and remaining plasma proteins were calculated by determining the PLT count, volume and plasma protein levels in both the prewash and postwash. Secondly, washed PLTs and unwashed control PLTs were stored for 5 days, and the changes during this 5-day storage of in vitro PLT characteristics were determined. Results The hollow-fibre column system effectively removed >98% of plasma in platelet concentrates ( PCs), and the PLT recovery was 97% on an average. The CD62P-expression level on washed PLTs immediately after washing was approximately twofold higher than that on prewashed PLTs as well as on PLTs washed via manual methods or cell washing devices. Until day 5 during storage, PLT aggregability, hypotonic shock response and swirling scores of washed PLTs were not significantly different from those of the control PCs. Conclusion Our novel hollow-fibre column system proved valuable in preparing washed PLTs with <2% of residual plasma proteins and high recovery of PLTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Society of Blood Transfusion Working Party on red cell immunogenetics and blood group terminology convened during the International congress in Cancun, July 2012. This report details the newly identified antigens in existing blood group systems and presents three new blood group systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Background Blood-group genotyping arrays have been widely used in Caucasian and African American populations, but have not been thoroughly tested in Japanese subjects. Aim To evaluate, using the BLOODchip® Reference genotyping system, the concordance of previously typed samples with expected phenotypes and the coverage of the Japanese variants. Methods Blood samples from 100 Japanese donors were obtained. DNA was extracted with QIAsymphony (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). Samples were typed by serological methods and processed with the BLOODchip®. When a non-concordant result was identified, further sequencing by polymerase chain reaction-single specific primer ( PCR-SSP) was performed. Results Concordance between systems was 98% (736/751), and 98.8% (742/751) if only non-software-related non-concordances were considered. In the ABO group, 6 'No Call' ( NC, inability of the BLOODchip® to assign a result) were ascribed to a variant of blood subtype A1 ( A102; 467C>T), a common subtype in Asian populations, whereas three NC presented additional polymorphisms not contained in the BLOODchip® ( A102/ A205, A102/ O06 and A204/ O02). In the RhD group, one discrepancy was correctly genotyped as RHD* 1227A (Del phenotype) by the BLOODchip® (phenotyped as partial D, RHD* DIVb). Another was phenotyped as D+ by the BLOODchip® (phenotyped weak D by serology) and confirmed as RHD*D- CE(2)-D heterozygous by sequencing. The 3 RhD NC can be solved by further software update. For RhCE, one discrepancy was correctly genotyped for both systems; however, only the BLOODchip® was able to detect RHCE* CX allele. Conclusions By programming the A102 ABO variant into the system software with the new allele combinations, the BLOODchip® Reference is a suitable genotyping tool to be applied to Asian samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the meeting of the Working Party of the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) during the 2010 ISBT Congress in Berlin, Germany. It states that the group was renamed the Working Party on Red Cell Immunogenetics and Blood Group Terminology during the event. It also says that doctor Geoff Daniels gave terms of reference to advise the ISBT on red cell immunogenetics, and to maintain and monitor terminologies for blood group antigens.

Abstract: Biogenic trace gases, especially halomethanes, which are important with respect to atmospheric chemistry, are released from the ocean and carry halogens to the troposphere and stratosphere. The concentrations of 10 halocarbons and isoprene in seawater were measured during the spring of 2007 in the western North Pacific Ocean (37–43° N, 143–146° E). Sea–air fluxes of CH3Cl, CH3Br, CH2ClI, and CH2I2 were also estimated based upon the atmospheric as well as oceanic measurement of these species. Temperature–salinity scatter diagram analyses divided the sampling stations into the Oyashio region, Tsugaru warm current region, and Kuroshio region. Mean (range) concentrations of the gases in the water columns (5–100m) were 114 (56–150) pmolL−1 CH3Cl, 6.9 (4.1–19.4) pmolL−1 CH3Br, 1.7 (0.7–2.9) pmolL−1 CH3I, 1.9 (0.9–4.1) pmolL−1 CH2BrCl, 4.8 (3.2–8.1) pmolL−1 CH2Br2, 1.0 (0.6–1.8) pmolL−1 CHBrCl2, 1.2 (0.7–2.0) pmolL−1 CHBr2Cl, 10.8 (4.7–24.5) pmolL−1 CHBr3, 1.7 (0.7–5.4) pmolL−1 CH2ClI, 3.0 (<0.1–22.2) pmolL−1 CH2I2, and 19.7 (3.8–68.2) pmolL−1 isoprene. The maximum concentration of isoprene was observed in the Oyashio region, where concentrations of chlorophyll a (maximum: 2.94µgL−1) were highest in the present study. However, the peaks of CH3Br, CH2ClI, and CH2I2 were observed in the Tsugaru warm current region, where concentrations of chlorophyll a were not as high (maximum: 0.65µgL−1). The results of chlorophyll a size fractionation showed a high occurrence of halomethanes in the stations dominated by pico-sized phytoplankton. These results indicate the importance of picoplankton as a possible source of halocarbon production. Chlorophyll b and prasinoxanthin had a statistically significant positive correlation with CH2I2 (r 2 =0.69 and r 2 =0.71, respectively) and with CH2ClI (r 2 =0.87 and r 2 =0.77, respectively). These results suggest that some species of prasinophytes might contribute to CH2I2 and CH2ClI production. For other compounds, there was no peak in the vertical profile in seawater. In the depth profiles, the peak of CH2ClI was observed above the peak of CH2I2; these profiles suggest that a photochemical reaction could yield CH2ClI from CH2I2 in seawater. The mean mixing ratio and range of CH3Cl, CH3Br, and CH2ClI in the air were measured as 548 (524–609), 12.1 (8.6–19.0), and 0.27 (0.03–0.90) pptv, respectively. CH2I2 was not detected in the atmosphere (<1pptv). The saturation anomaly of CH3Br was positive at all stations (the sea surface temperature varied from 1.7°C to 19°C). The highest mixing ratio of CH2ClI in air was also observed near the station at which the highest concentration of CH2ClI was observed in seawater; the sea-to-air fluxes of CH2ClI and CH2I2 were 3.8 and 1.6nmolm−2 day−1, respectively. These results suggest that the production of CH2ClI and CH2I2 in seawater is an important source of organic iodine compounds in the remote atmosphere. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A letter to the editor is presented commenting on the examination of allergic transfusion reactions by the basophil activation test.

Abstract: SCRAM-jet engine is considered to be one of the useful system propulsion for super/hypersonic transportation vehicle and various researches were made to develop the engine. However, there are a lot of problems to be solved to develop it and one of them is the problem of supersonic mixing. In the SCRAM-jet engine combustor, main airflow is supersonic and residence time of the air is very short (about 1ms). Hence rapid mixing of air and fuel is necessary. However, usually it is quite difficult to mix fuel with air in very short distance. Also total pressure loss occurs by flow interaction the air and fuel. Total pressure loss is not preferable because it causes the thrust loss. Therefore, supersonic mixing with very rapid mixing and lower total pressure loss ratio is highly requested. In order to develop the supersonic mixing, it is very important to understand the effect of injection angle. In present study, we investigate the effect of injection angle with circular sonic nozzle by changing the injection angle. Experimental and computational studies on supersonic mixing phenomena of two-dimensional slot injector with various injection angles were conducted. Supersonic wind tunnel was used for the experiments. The free stream Mach number is 3.8, total pressure is 1.1MPa and total temperature is 287K on average. As a secondary gas, helium gas was injected at sonic speed from the circular nozzle. The injection angle is 30°, 90° and 150°. Its total pressure is 0.4MPa and total temperature is 287K on average. The same flow field was also simulated by solving three-dimensional full Navier–Stokes equation with AUSM-DV scheme [Y. Wada, M.S. Liou, A flux splitting scheme with high-resolution and robustness for discontinuities, AIAA Paper 94–0083, 1994] for convective terms and full implicit LU-ADI factorization method [S. Obayashi, K. Matsushima, K. Fujii, K. Kuwahara, Improvements in efficiency and reliability for Navier–Stokes computations using the LU-ADI factorization algorithm, AIAA Paper 86–0338, 1986] for time integration. Central difference was used for viscous terms and two-equation turbulence model [D.C. Wilcox, Reassessment of the scale determining equation for advanced turbulent models, J. AIAA 26(11) (1988) 1299–1310; D.C. Wilcox, A two-equation turbulence model for wall-bounded and free-share flows, AIAA Paper 93–2905, 1993] was also employed. In the experiments, stream line on the wall surface was revealed by the oil flow picture and the flow field was visualized by the Shlieren photograph. The wall static pressure profile along the flow was obtained by the wall pressure measurements. Also volume fraction distribution measurements were conducted. Each one of those showed good agreement with computational ones. From the thorough investigation of the flow field by experiments and computations, various characteristics of the supersonic mixing with circular nozzle have been revealed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents the changes and updates made by the International Society of Blood Transfusion committee to the classification in Blood Terminology 2004 during its meeting in Macau Special Administrative Region, China. It states that a new blood group system was established and new antigens were added to Rh, Kell, and Dombrock systems. It also mentions that there are already a total number of 308 antigens recognized at present times.

The article reports on the updated classification of blood group systems by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) Committee. The new antigens were added to MNS, Kell, Scianna, Cromer, Indian, Knops and JMH systems. The changes recommended to the terminology for blood group genes by the committe are also discussed.

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a potent antitumoral cytokine, but high doses are toxic. Herein, we demonstrate that combinational transduction of IL-12 and CC-chemokine ligand-27 (CCL27) genes into pre-existing murine OV-HM ovarian carcinoma and Meth-A fibrosarcoma, by using RGD fiber-mutant adenoviral vectors, could induce tumor regression and relieve systemic side effects more effectively than either treatment alone. The antitumor activity of the IL-12 and CCL27 combination treatment was T-cell-dependent, and development of long-term specific immunity was confirmed in rechallenge experiments. Immunohistochemical analysis of tumors transduced with CCL27 gene alone or cotransduced with IL-12 and CCL27 genes showed significant increases in numbers of infiltrating CD3+ T cells, which included both CD4+ and CD8+ cells. Additionally, cotransduction with IL-12 and CCL27 genes could more efficiently activate tumor-infiltrating immune cells than transduction with CCL27 alone, as determined by the frequency of perforin-positive cells and expression levels of IFN-γ. Furthermore, mice treated with the IL-12 and CCL27 combination compared with those treated with IL-12 alone showed milder pathological changes, for example, lymphocyte infiltration and extramedullary hematopoiesis, in lung, liver and spleen. Our data provide evidence that combinational in vivo transduction with IL-12 and CCL27 genes is a promising approach for the development of cancer immunogene therapy that can simultaneously recruit and activate tumor-infiltrating immune cells.Gene Therapy (2007) 14, 491–502. doi:10.1038/sj.gt.3302892; published online 4 January 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by a progressive loss of higher cognitive functions. The brain of an individual with AD exhibits extracellular senile plaques (SPs) of aggregated amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Given the critical role of neuronal transport of both proteins and organelles, it is not surprising that perturbation of microtubule-based transport may play a major role in the pathogenesis of AD. Materials and methods We used the cDNA subtraction methodology and in vitro neural cell culture analyses to study the meaning of the brain site-specific gene expression pattern in cerebral tissue obtained from AD patients and also from control subjects at autopsy. Results We observed that cytoskeleton-associated proteins were down-regulated in AD subjects. We also noted an altered expression of the microtubule-associated protein 1B (MAP1B), the heat-shock protein (HSP)-90 (a key chaperone molecule), the tripartite motif-containing proteins (TRIM)-32/37 (an anti apoptotic enzyme with ubiquitin-protein ligase activity) and the Reticulon-3 (a modulator of the amyloid-precursor-protein (APP) cleavage) in AD brains. Additional molecular- and cell-biological studies revealed that small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated down-regulation of MAP1B expression leads to neuronal cell death in vitro. Conclusion Altered expression of MAP1B, HSP90, TRIM32/37 and Reticulon-3 provides new clues by which the ubiquitin-proteasome-, the protein-chaperon- and the APP-processing systems are disturbed in AD, thus, leading to neuritic amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although flow cytometric (FCM) analysis is one of the most widely used approaches to screen the presence of leucocyte antibodies, it has several drawbacks. First, neutrophils and, especially, monocytes exhibit high background reactivity. Second, to determine antibody specificity, it is often necessary to examine not only neutrophils and monocytes but also other lineage cells including T cells, B cells and platelets. Therefore, we attempted to establish an FCM analysis system in which four lineages of leucocytes and platelets are simultaneously tested with low background. FCM analysis was performed using ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid-anticoagulated whole blood as cell sample without any cell preparation. Discrimination of five cell lineages was carried out based on the differences in forward vs. side scatter distribution and in the expression of CD4, CD20 and CD14. When anti-HNA (human neutrophil antigen) 1b antiserum was applied to HNA 1b-positive blood samples, only neutrophils were unambiguously positive. When anti-Naka (anti-CD36) antiserum was applied, only platelets and monocytes were positive. The background reactivity of neutrophils and monocytes was low enough. When anti-human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class II antiserum was tested, only B-lymphocytes and monocytes were positive. When anti-HLA class I antiserum was tested, all the five-lineage cells were positive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our goal in the present study was to evaluate antitumor effects and frequency of tumor-infiltrating immune cells upon intratumoral injection of RGD fiber-mutant adenoviral vector (AdRGD) encoding the chemokines CCL17, CCL19, CCL20, CCL21, CCL22, CCL27, XCL1, and CX3CL1. Among eight kinds of chemokine-expressing AdRGDs, AdRGD-CCL19 injection most efficiently induced infiltration of T cells into established B16BL6 tumor parenchyma, whereas most of these T cells were perforin-negative in immunohistochemical analysis. Additionally, the growth of AdRGD-CCL19-injected tumors decreased only slightly as well as that of other tumors treated with each chemokine-expressing AdRGD, which indicated that accumulation of naive T cells in tumor tissue does not effectively damage the tumor cells. Tumor-bearing mice, in which B16BL6-specific T cells were elicited by dendritic cell-based immunization, demonstrated that intratumoral injection of AdRGD-CCL17, -CCL22, or -CCL27 could considerably suppress tumor growth and attract activated T cells. On the other hand, AdRGD-CCL19-injection in the immunized mice showed slight increase of tumor-infiltrating T cells compared to treatment using control vector. Collectively, although AdRGD-mediated chemokine gene transduction into established tumors would be very useful for augmentation of tumor-infiltrating immune cells, a combinational treatment that can systemically induce tumor-specific effector T cells is necessary for satisfactory antitumor efficacy.Cancer Gene Therapy (2006) 13, 393–405. doi:10.1038/sj.cgt.7700903; published online 14 October 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a chart that depicts the blood group terminology. System name; System symbol; Gene name; Chromosomal location.

Focuses on a report given by the International Society of Blood Transfusion Committee on terminology for red cell surface antigen. Addition of three antigens to the existing Rh factor system; Identification of an antigen of very high incidence called GUTI; Creation of I system for the gene encoding N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase.