Comparative outcomes of vascular access in patients older than 70 years with end-stage renal disease

Objective

The advantage of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) in older patients requiring dialysis is controversial. We reviewed our vascular access experience in patients ≥70 years of age (older group) compared with younger patients.

The intraocular staining potential of anthocyanins and their retinal biocompatibility: a preclinical study

Purpose: To perform preclinical studies to determine the efficacy and safety of anthocyanins as stains for the internal limiting membrane (ILM) of the eye.

Materials and methods: Cyanidin (Cya), delphinidin (Del), luteolinidin (Lut), peonidin (Peo) and pelargonidin (Pel) were evaluated. These natural dyes were used to stain the lens capsule and ILM of pig eyes. The effects of these dyes on retinal cell viability was determined using a water-soluble tetrazolium salt assay, and oxidative stress was measured in vitro. Histopathology, in situ TUNEL labelling, transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), and electroretinography (ERG) were performed on rats following the intravitreal and subretinal injection of the neuroprotective dyes.

Results: All anthocyanins stained the lens capsule and ILM of the pigs at a concentration of 1?mg/ml. Del, Lut and Peo were non-toxic and produced survival rates in the ARPE19 and RGC5 cells that were similar to those in control cells. We treated eyes with H₂O₂ and three dyes (Del, Lut, and Peo) to explore the possible neuroprotective effects and observed significantly higher survival rates in the ARPE19 cells treated with Del, Lut or Peo and the RGC5 cells treated with Lut or Peo than those in the control cells. Three dyes were intravitreally and subretinally injected into rats in vivo, and the histology showed mildly disorganized retinal cell layers. TUNEL staining and TEM examinations did not reveal additional toxic effects. Rat ERGs were not altered after intravitreal injections.

Conclusions: This preclinical study, Del, Lut, and Peo show potential as staining agents and warrant further investigation as vital dyes.     

Three months of rifapentine and isoniazid for latent tuberculosis infection in hemodialysis patients: High rates of adverse events

The consequences of once-weekly rifapentine plus isoniazid for 3 months (3HP) against latent tuberculosis infections in hemodialysis patients have not been studied before. This is the first study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of 3HP in this population and revealed a completion rate of 65.4%. The therapy was not associated with hepatotoxicity, but with high rates of adverse events (69.2%).     

YWHAZ amplification/overexpression defines aggressive bladder cancer and contributes to chemo-/radio-resistance by suppressing caspase-mediated apoptosis

The objective of this study was to characterize the oncogenic actions of a recently identified cancer-associated gene YWHAZ (also named as 14-3-3 ζ/δ) in urothelial carcinomas of the urinary bladder (UCUB). A genome-wide study revealed YWHAZ to be involved in the amplicon at 8q22.3, and its genetic amplification was detected predominantly in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Immunohistochemical staining confirmed the association of YWHAZ overexpression with higher tumor stages, lymph node/vascular invasion, and mitotic activity. Univariate and multivariate analyses further indicated the prognostic potential of YWHAZ for more aggressive cancer types. Both gene set enrichment analysis and STRING network studies suggested involvement of YWHAZ in regulating caspase-mediated apoptosis. Ectopic expression of YWHAZ in bladder cells with low endogenous YWHAZ levels boosted cell resistance to doxorubicin and cisplatin, as well as to ionizing radiation. Conversely, YWHAZ-knockdown using specific shRNA in cells with high endogenous YWHAZ levels diminished survival activity, suppressing cell growth and increasing cell death. Our findings confirm the essential role played by YWHAZ in sustaining cell proliferation during chemo/radiotherapy. Treatments based on anti-YWHAZ strategies may thus be beneficial for UCUB patients overexpressing YWHAZ. © 2019 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.     

Enhanced Anti-Leukemic Effects through Induction of Immunomodulating Microenvironment by Blocking CXCR4 and PD-L1 in an AML Mouse Model

Previously, we found that dual therapy by the CXCR4 inhibitor Plerixafor and cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) effectively eradicated leukemia cells and concurrently activated immune cells in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). To reveal the significance of programmed death-ligand1 (PD-L1) in AML and as a strategic approach, we investigated the anti-leukemic effect of a triple combinational therapy by utilizing Plerixafor and anti-PD-L1 in combination with chemotherapy in an AML mouse model. We examined leukemic myeloid blast cells in multiple organs after the successive treatment with Ara-C, Plerixafor, and anti-PD-L1. The results showed that noticeable benefits of triple combinational therapy for eradication of myeloid blast cells in vivo with prolonged survival rates. The frequencies of regulatory T cells (Tregs), monocytic-myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSCs), and granulocytic-myeloid-derived suppressor cells (G-MDSCs), in the peripheral blood of leukemic mice were consistently decreased, even when mice were sacrificed alive at D + 26 after completion of the triple combinational therapy, compared to the other subgroups. These findings imply that the modulation by the triple combinational therapy may lead to more efficient leukemic myeloid blast cell ablation through the suppression of Tregs or M-MDSCs and G-MDSCs in AML. Although Plerixafor and PD-L1 antagonist do not have a direct anti-leukemic role, our results provide some clues and guidelines to develop clinically therapeutic strategies for chemotherapy-resistant patients by the modulation of leukemic microenvironments.     

Chinese liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis infection changes the gut microbiome and increases probiotic Lactobacillus in mice

Chinese liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis changes the host’s immune system. Recently, it has been reported that helminths including C. sinensis can ameliorate immune-related diseases such as allergy. In addition, recent studies showed that helminth infection can alleviate immune-mediated disorders by altering the gut microbiome. However, changes in the gut microbiome due to C. sinensis have not been reported yet. In this study, changes in the gut microbiome of C57BL/6 mice infected with C. sinensis metacercariae were evaluated over time. Stool was analyzed by 16S rRNA amplicon analysis using high-throughput sequencing technology. There was no apparent difference in species richness and diversity between the infected and control groups. However, the composition of the microbiome was different between the infected and control groups at 20 days and 30 days post-infection, and the difference disappeared at 50 days post-infection. In particular, this microbiome alteration was associated with a change in the relative abundance of genus Lactobacillus and the probiotic Lactobacillus species that are known to have an immune-modulation role in immune-mediated diseases.

     

Anthropometric study of the upper lip and the nose of infants less than a year of age

We divided healthy newborns (aged between 2 weeks and 6 months) into four groups, less than 2 weeks old, 60 +/- 7 days, 120 +/- 7 days, and 180 +/- 7 days, between June 2001 and February 2002, and each group had 40 infants. The lineal distances included 13 items related to the nose, mouth, and lips.The average width of the columella at the midpoint was 3.2, 3.5, 3.7, and 3.8 mm for the 2-week-old group, the 2-month-old group, the 4-month-old group, and the 6-month-old group, respectively. The average height of the columella was 4.7, 4.9, 5.2, and 5.3 mm. The average length between the medial alar bases was 13.7, 14.4, 17.4, and 17.6 mm. The average length from the base to the tip of Cupid's bow was 9.5, 10.0, 10.5, and 10.6 mm. The average length from the columella lateral base to the tip of Cupid's bow was 8.4, 9.9, 10.2, and 10.5 mm. The average length from the columella central base to the center of Cupid's bow was 8.3, 9.5, 9.8, and 9.9 mm. The average width of one limb of Cupid's bow was 2.7, 3.1, 3.4, and 3.5 mm. The average length from the tip of Cupid's bow to the commissure was 13.4, 14.7, 16.4, and 16.9 mm. The average intercommissural distance was 26.8, 30.3, 30.8, and 32.7 mm. The average width of the philtral column at the columella base was 3.1, 3.6, 3.7, and 4.0 mm. The average width of the philtral columns at the mid-portion was 3.7, 4.6, 4.6, and 4.6 mm. The average height of the nasal tip protrusion was 8.7, 11.0, 11.7, and 12.1 mm. The average width of the nose was 20.7, 23.7, 25.3, and 25.9 mm. In conclusion, these data are expected to be useful for patients with a bilateral cleft lip.