Selective distribution of medial thickening in the renal vessels in experimental hypertension

Direct effects, especially the distribution of medial thickening due to chronic hypertension on the renal arterial tree, were examined pathologically and morphometrically in cats with one-kidney DOCA-salt hypertension. Twenty-one adult male cats were divided into three groups: (i) an experimental group of one-kidney DOCA-salt hypertension (12 cats): (ii) a uninephrectomized group without administration of DOCA and salt (four cats); and (iii) a group without uninephrectomy and administration of DOCA and salt (five cats). The duration of hypertension varied from 3 weeks to 4 months and the aortic blood pressure was monitored every 5 min. The increase of mean blood pressure (MBP) of the experimental group was 15–44 mmHg. A significant medial thickening of the right renal arterial tree was evaluated by a comparison of the right and left regression lines of each case between the midwall radius (R) and medial thickness (D) of arteries in a distended state. The evaluation was made separately for arteries with R values above or below 40 μm, because a regression line between R and D showed a maximum bend at a level of R from 30 to 40 μm. The arteries of the right kidney with a diameter less than 40 μm, corresponding to the interlobular arteries and afferent arterioles, showed significant medial thickening in six cases. Medial thickening was absent in other cats of the experimental group and cats of a control group given uninephrectomy alone. Increase of MBP during the hypertensive phase of these six cases was above 34.6 mmHG and all values of other cats without medial thickening were below this level. The renal arteries of the right kidney with a diameter larger than 40 μm showed medial thickening in only one cat. This preferential distribution of medial thickening of the interlobular arteries and afferent arterioles due to one kidney DOCA-salt hypertension was considered to be a direct effect of hypertension and a result of the specific functional (autoregulation of the renal blood flow) and structural features of these arteries.     

Do scalp-recorded slow potentials during neuro-feedback training reflect the cortical activity?

Objective

Neuro-feedback (NFB) training by the self-regulation of slow potentials (SPs) <0.5?Hz recorded from the vertex scalp has been applied for seizure suppression in patients with epilepsy. However, SP is highly susceptible to artifact contamination, such as the galvanic skin response (GSR). This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between SPs recorded from the scalp and intracranial electroencephalography (EEG) by event-related coherence analysis.

T cell recognition of HLA‐A2 restricted tumor antigens is impaired by the oncogene HER2

The HER2 oncogene is frequently over‐expressed in human cancers and a promising target for immune therapy. Previous studies have shown that over‐expression of mouse or rat HER2 leads to markedly reduced levels of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and molecules of the antigen processing and presentation machinery (APM), thus resulting in a phenotype promoting tumor escape from the immune system. Our study focuses on analyzing the effect of HER2 on MHC class I antigen presentation and sensitivity to tumor‐antigen specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in HLA‐A2.1⁺ melanoma cell lines. We demonstrate significant inverse correlations both between the expression of HER2 and total MHC class I surface expression as well as between HER2 and HLA‐A2. A significant reduction of HLA‐A2 levels was found when melanoma and carcinoma cell lines were transfected with a human HER2 gene. A signaling‐competent HER2 molecule was crucial for the observed HLA‐A2 down‐regulation, as transfectants expressing high levels of HER2 mutated in the tyrosine signaling domain did not show altered HLA‐A2 expression. Importantly, the human melanoma cell line EST049 demonstrated reduced HER2 and melanoma antigen‐specific recognition by CTLs upon HER2 transfection. In addition, high expression of HER2 prevented both IFN‐γ mediated HLA‐A2 up‐regulation and improved recognition by HLA‐A2‐restricted CTLs in treated cells. Moreover, key APM molecules were down‐regulated by HER2. These findings implicate that HER2 over‐expressing tumors may be more prone to escape from HLA‐A2 restricted CTLs suggesting that immunotherapy approaches inducing an integrated humoral, cellular and innate immune response would be most effective.     

Combined effects of low-intensity blood flow restriction training and high-intensity resistance training on muscle strength and size

We investigated the combined effect of low-intensity blood flow restriction and high-intensity resistance training on muscle adaptation. Forty young men (aged 22–32 years) were randomly divided into four groups of ten subjects each: high-intensity resistance training (HI-RT, 75% of one repetition maximum [1-RM]), low-intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction (LI-BFR, 30% 1-RM), combined HI-RT and LI-BFR (CB-RT, twice-weekly LI-BFR and once-weekly HI-RT), and nontraining control (CON). Three training groups performed bench press exercises 3 days/week for 6 weeks. During LI-BFR training sessions, subjects wore pressure cuffs on both arms that were inflated to 100–160 mmHg. Increases in 1-RM were similar in the HI-RT (19.9%) and CB-RT (15.3%) groups and lower in the LI-BFR group (8.7%, p < 0.05). Maximal isometric elbow extension (MVC) increased in the HI-RT (11.3%) and CB-RT (6.6%) groups; there was no change in the LI-BFR group (−0.2%). The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the triceps brachii (TB) increased (p < 0.05) in the HI-RT (8.6%), CB-RT (7.2%), and LI-BFR (4.4%) groups. The change in relative isometric strength (MVC divided by TB CSA) was greater (p < 0.05) in the HI-RT group (3.3%) than in the LI-BFR (−3.5%) and CON (−0.1%) groups. Following training, relative dynamic strength (1-RM divided by TB CSA) was increased (p < 0.05) by 10.5% in the HI-RT group and 6.7% in the CB-RT group. None of the variables in the CON group changed. Our results show that low-intensity resistance training with BFR-induced functional muscle adaptations is improved by combining it with HI-RT.     

Increases in thigh muscle volume and strength by walk training with leg blood flow reduction in older participants

We examined the effects of walk training combined with leg blood flow reduction (BFR) on muscle hypertrophy as well as on peak oxygen uptake (VO? peak) in older individuals. Both the BFR walk training (BFR-Walk, n = 10, age; 64 ± 1 years, body mass index [BMI]; 22.5 ± 0.9 kg/m2) and control walk training (CON-Walk, n = 8, age; 68 ± 1 years, BMI; 23.2 ± 1.0 kg/m2) groups performed 20 minutes of treadmill walking at an exercise intensity of 45% of heart rate reserve, 4 days per week, for 10 weeks. The BFR-Walk group wore pressure belts (160-200 mm Hg) on both legs during training. After the training, magnetic resonance imaging-measured thigh muscle cross-sectional area (3.1%, p < .01) and muscle volume (3.7%, p < .01) as well as maximal isometric (5.9%, p < .05) and isokinetic (up to 22%, p < .01) strength increased in the BFR-Walk group, but not in the CON-Walk group. Estimated VO? peak during a bicycle graded exercise test increased (p < .05) and correlated with oxygen pulse in both groups. In conclusion, BFR walk training improves both muscle volume and strength in older women.     

Suggestive synchronous triple squamous cell carcinoma of the lung in the same lobe

We report a case of suggestive synchronous triple squamous cell carcinoma (Sq) of the lung that occurred in the same lobe. Under a clinical diagnosis of triple lung cancer, lobectomy was performed. Pathological examination revealed two well-differentiated Sq and one poorly differentiated Sq. The analysis of epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase mutations showed no mutation in each tumor. However, pathological findings and the positive rate of immunochemical reaction of p53 and Ki-67 were different in each tumor.     

What are the prevalence,characteristics and significance of fetal lateral neck cysts detected in an early anatomical scan?

Purpose

This study evaluated the association of fetal lateral neck cysts (FLNC) with adverse pregnancy outcomes, in relation to specific sonographic characteristics and co-existing findings.

Methods

Pregnancies in which FLNC were detected by a single examiner in early anatomical scans (14–16 weeks) were included. Data regarding the pregnancy and its outcome were retrieved from telephone-based questionnaires, patient charts and from the examiner’s reports.

Results

654 cases of FLNC were detected among 9446 early anatomical scans (6.9%). Complete data regarding 219 pregnancies were available. FLNC were significantly more prevalent in males (65.2%). The prevalence of heart malformations was 3.2% [all were non-isolated cases or with abnormal nuchal translucency (NT) and/or nuchal fold (NF)]. Amniocentesis performed in 165 pregnancies was abnormal in 1.2%. Among 206 children born from this cohort, adverse medical outcomes were reported in 5.3%. The likelihood of adverse pregnancy outcomes was significantly higher in non-isolated cases and in cases with abnormal NT or NF. Sonographic characteristics such as cyst size and bilateral findings were not linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Conclusion

Isolated FLNC are benign findings which do not require additional work up. FLNC with additional sonographic abnormalities are associated with a significantly increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes.