A prospective survey of delayed adverse reactions to iohexol in urography and computed tomography

We investigated 7505 inpatients who underwent intravenous urography or contrast-enhanced computed tomography to assess risk factors for delayed adverse drug reactions to iohexol, a non-ionic iodinated contrast medium. Focusing on delayed adverse reactions, all adverse events were prospectively investigated for 7 days after injection of iohexol. To explore the relevant risk factors, the relationship between occurrence of adverse reactions to iohexol and 17 different variables was evaluated by logistic regression analysis. To assess the influence of seasonal factors, adverse reactions were separately evaluated during two periods: February to April (the pollinosis period in Japan) and July to September (the non-pollinosis period). The prevalence of delayed adverse events and delayed adverse reactions was 3.5 and 2.8%, respectively, whereas the prevalence of adverse events and adverse reactions was 5.7 and 5.0%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that six parameters had a significant influence on delayed adverse reactions to iohexol, including (a) a history of allergy, (b) season, (c) radiographic procedure, (d) age, (e) concomitant surgery or other invasive procedures, and (f) concomitant medication. The prevalence of delayed reactions was lower than in previous large-scale studies. Significant risk factors included a history of allergy and performance of radiography during the pollinosis period, suggesting that allergy was involved in delayed adverse reactions. The type of radiographic procedure also had an influence. Electronic Publication     

Effects of insulin-like growth factor I on climbing fibre synapse elimination during cerebellar development

Functional neural circuit formation includes the process by which redundant synaptic connections formed earlier during development are subsequently eliminated. We report that insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is a candidate factor that influences the developmental transition from multiple to mono innervation of cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) by climbing fibres (CFs). Continuous local application of exogenous IGF-I to the mouse cerebellum by means of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (Elvax) significantly increased the degree of multiple CF innervation, when the IGF-I containing Elvax was implanted at postnatal day 8 (P8). In contrast, the IGF-I application starting at P12 had no effect on CF innervation. Conversely, continuous local application of antisera against IGF-I and its receptor significantly decreased the degree of multiple CF innervation when the application started at P8. We found that chronic treatment of exogenous IGF-I from P8 significantly enhanced the CF-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents (CF-EPSCs). This effect was manifest for the smaller CF-EPSCs but not for the largest CF-EPSC of the multiple-innervated PCs. Conversely, chronic application of antisera from P8 caused attenuation of the largest CF-EPSCs. Other parameters for basic synaptic functions and cerebellar morphology were largely normal after the IGF-I or antisera treatment. These results suggest that IGF-I enhances the strength of developing CF synapses and may promote their survival, whereas the shortage of IGF-I impairs the development of CF synapses and, as a result, may facilitate their elimination. Thus, IGF-I is a potentially important factor among various signalling molecules that can influence CF synapse elimination during cerebellar development.     

Social Frailty Has a Stronger Impact on the Onset of Depressive Symptoms than Physical Frailty or Cognitive Impairment: A 4-Year Follow-up Longitudinal Cohort Study

Objectives

To examine the association between each type of frailty status and the incidence rate of depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults.

Cardiac energetics analysis after aortic valve replacement with 16-mm ATS mechanical valve

The 16-mm ATS mechanical valve is one of the smallest prosthetic valves used for aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with a very small aortic annulus, and its clinical outcomes are reportedly satisfactory. Here, we analyzed the left ventricular (LV) performance after AVR with the 16-mm ATS mechanical valve, based on the concept of cardiac energetics analysis. Eleven patients who underwent AVR with the 16-mm ATS mechanical valve were enrolled in this study. All underwent echocardiographic examination at three time points: before AVR, approximately 1 month after AVR, and approximately 1 year after AVR. LV contractility (end-systolic elastance [Ees]), afterload (effective arterial elastance [Ea]), and efficiency (ventriculoarterial coupling [Ea/Ees] and the stroke work to pressure–volume area ratio [SW/PVA]) were noninvasively measured by echocardiographic data and blood pressure measurement. Ees transiently decreased after AVR and then recovered to the pre-AVR level at the one-year follow-up. Ea significantly decreased in a stepwise manner. Consequently, Ea/Ees and SW/PVA were also significantly improved at the one-year follow-up compared with those before AVR. The midterm LV performance after AVR with the 16-mm ATS mechanical valve was satisfactory. AVR with the 16-mm ATS mechanical valve is validated as an effective treatment for patients with a very small aortic annulus. The cardiac energetics variables, coupling with the conventional hemodynamic variables, can contribute to a better understanding of the patients’ clinical conditions, and those may serve as promising indices of the cardiac function.     

Synergistic interactions between footshocks and non-osmotic hypovolemia on vasopressin secretion in rats

The effects of i.p. injected hypertonic NaCl and polyethylene glycol on the magnitude of increase in plasma vasopressin after footshocks were studied in male rats, to determine whether hypovolemia and body fluid osmolality interact with noxious stimuli on vasopressin secretion. Present data have demonstrated that non-osmotic hypovolemia but not body fluid hyperosmolarity interact significantly and synergistically with footshocks to potentiate vasopressin secretion.     

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor- and interleukin 6-producing diffuse deciduoid peritoneal mesothelioma.

An autopsy case of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)- and interleukin-6 (IL-6)-producing diffuse deciduoid peritoneal mesothelioma is reported. The patient was a 70-year-old man with abdominal distension and weight loss in the year prior to his death. Laboratory data suggested severe inflammation with marked leukocytosis, thrombocytosis and elevated serum levels of C-reactive protein, G-CSF and IL-6. Imaging studies showed an expansive mass occupying the entire abdomen and pelvic cavity. Histological diagnosis of tissue taken by needle biopsy was difficult due to the unusual sarcomatoid-appearance of the tumor. In addition, there was severe infiltration of numerous neutrophilic leukocytes. An autopsy revealed that the diffuse peritoneal tumor had a fresh fishmeat-like appearance with focal mucinous degeneration and entirely encased the abdominal organs. Histological examination showed a sheet-like proliferation of tumor cells with large ovoid or polygonal cytoplasm, large atypical nuclei and obvious nucleoli. The tumor cells showed abundant glycogen and hyaluronic acid, and were immunoreactive to cytokeratin, calretinin, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), CA-125, and focally to vimentin. The tumor cells were immunoreactive to G-CSF and IL-6. Electron microscopy revealed long, slender microvilli on the tumor cell surface. This tumor was diagnosed as a G-CSF- and IL-6-producing, diffuse deciduoid mesothelioma. We report this case with special reference to the differential diagnosis of deciduoid peritoneal mesothelioma with paraneoplastic syndrome.     

Rapid and sensitive mycoplasma detection system using image-based deep learning

Journal of Artificial Organs - A major concern in the clinical application of cell therapy is the manufacturing cost of cell products, which mainly depends on quality control. The mycoplasma test,...