MULTIPLE PRIMARY MALIGNANT FIBROUS HISTIOCYTOMA OF THE STOMACH AND SMALL INTESTINE

A case of multicentric malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the stomach and small intestine is reported. The patient was a 60-year-old man who had total gastrectomy under an impression of a gastric carcinoma. The resected stomach revealed a large polypoid mass in the antral portion at the greater curvature. Three months later, he developed ileus and an 80 cm segment of the jejunum was removed. It contained two polypoid masses identical to that seen in the stomach. The tumors showed, in addition to the characteristic light microscopic appearances, strong positivity for alpha-1-antitrypsin by an immunoperoxidase technique, indicating the diagnosis of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH). Electron microscopic findings were also consistent with MFH. We believe that this is the first well-documented case of MFH arising from the stomach and small intestine, to the best of our knowledge.     

Effects of acute hypoxia on ventilatory response at the onset of submaximal exercise

In order to investigate the effects of acute hypoxia and accompanying hypocapnia on the ventilatory response at the onset of dynamic exercise, four healthy adult men performed 50W rectangular loads on a cycle-ergometer in normoxic (FIO2 = 0.21) and hypoxic (FIO2 = 0.11) conditions. No statistically significant differences in the initial ventilatory responses to exercise (both delta VI and delta VE assessed on a breath-by-breath basis) were found between eucapnic normoxia (PETO2 approximately 95, PETCO2 approximately 42 Torr) and hypocapnic hypoxia (PETO2 approximately 45, PETCO2 approximately 35 Torr). The present findings support the contention that the neurogenic ventilatory drive at the onset of early exercise is independent from PO2 and PCO2.     

Porphyromonas gingivalis Fimbriae Use β2 Integrin (CD11/CD18) on Mouse Peritoneal Macrophages as a Cellular Receptor, and the CD18 β Chain Plays a Functional Role in Fimbrial Signaling

In this study, we demonstrate that Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbriae use molecules of β₂ integrin (CD11/CD18) on mouse peritoneal macrophages as cellular receptors and also show that the β chain (CD18) may play a functional role in signalling for the fimbria-induced expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) genes in the cells. Using a binding assay with ¹²⁵I-labeled fimbriae, we observed that fimbrial binding to the macrophages was inhibited by treatment with CD11a, CD11b, CD11c, or CD18 antibody but not by that with CD29 antibody. Western blot assays showed that the fimbriae bound to molecules of β₂ integrin (CD11/CD18) on the macrophages. Furthermore, Northern blot analyses showed that the fimbria-induced expression of IL-1β and TNF-α genes in the cells was inhibited strongly by CD18 antibody treatment and slightly by CD11a, CD11b, or CD11c antibody treatment. Interestingly, intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), a ligand of CD11/CD18, inhibited fimbrial binding to the cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, ICAM-1 clearly inhibited the fimbria-induced expression of IL-1β and TNF-α genes in the cells. However, such inhibitory action was not observed with laminin treatment. These results suggest the importance of β₂ integrin (CD11/CD18) as a cellular receptor of P. gingivalis fimbriae in the initiation stage of the pathogenic mechanism of the organism in periodontal disease.     

The expression of B7-H1 on keratinocytes in chronic inflammatory mucocutaneous disease and its regulatory role

PD-1 and its ligands, B7-H1/PD-L1 and B7-DC/PD-L2, have been identified recently as CD28-B7 family molecules that are implicated in immune regulation. Lichen planus (LP) is a T cell-mediated chronic inflammatory mucocutaneous disease. We investigated the expression and function of PD-1 and its two ligands in LP. Immunohistochemical examination revealed the abundant expression of PD-1 and B7-H1 in infiltrating T cells and macrophages, and lower-level expression of B7-DC on macrophages in the subepithelium. Interestingly, substantial expression of B7-H1 on keratinocytes (KCs) was found close to the numerous T cell infiltrates in the subepithelium. Unstimulated cultured KCs expressed both B7-H1 and B7-DC, and their expression was upregulated by proinflammatory cytokines, particularly IFN-gamma. The T-cell proliferative responses and IFN-gamma production that were induced by IFN-gamma-treated KCs were augmented preferentially by anti-B7-H1 mAb, but not by anti-B7-DC mAb. These results indicate the regulatory role of B7-H1 on KCs in the interactions with T cells. Our results suggest that the induction of B7-H1 on KCs may play an important role in tolerance induction in the inflamed oral mucosa and skin.     

Digital image processing: effect on detectability of simulated low-contrast radiographic patterns

Detection studies of simulated low-contrast radiographic patterns were performed with a high-quality digital image processing system. The original images, prepared with conventional screen-film systems, were processed digitally to enhance contrast by a "windowing" technique. The detectability of simulated patterns was quantified in terms of the results of observer performance experiments by using the multiple-alternative forced-choice method. The processed images demonstrated a significant increase in observer detection performance over that for the original images. These results are related to the displayed and perceived signal-to-noise ratios derived from signal detection theory. The improvement in detectability is ascribed to a reduction in the relative magnitude of the human observer's "internal" noise after image processing. The measured dependence of threshold signal contrast on object size and noise level is accounted for by a statistical decision theory model that includes internal noise.     

Diagnostic impact of monitoring transcranial motor-evoked potentials to prevent ischemic complications during endovascular treatment for intracranial aneurysms

Neurosurgical Review - The present study aimed to determine the incidence of intraprocedural motor-evoked potential (MEP) changes and to correlate them with intraprocedural ischemic complications...     

Abdominal angiography is associated with reduced in-hospital mortality among pediatric patients with blunt splenic and hepatic injury: A propensity-score-matching study from the national trauma registry in Japan

PurposeThe aim of this study was to assess the association between the implementation of abdominal angiography and outcome among pediatric patients with blunt splenic or hepatic injury.MethodsThis was a retrospective observational study, with a study period of 14 years, from January 2004 to December 2017. Blunt-trauma patients with splenic or hepatic injury who were less than 19 years old were included in this study. We used propensity-score-(PS) matching analysis to assess the relationship between abdominal angiography and in-hospital mortality.ResultsIn total, 639 patients were eligible for analysis, with 257 patients included in the abdominal-angiography group and 382 patients in the no-abdominal-angiography group. After PS matching, 224 patients from each group were selected. In the PS matched patients, in-hospital mortality was lower in the abdominal-angiography group than in the no-abdominal-angiography group (4.9% vs. 11.2%, odds ratio 0.416, 95% confidence interval 0.177–0.903).ConclusionIn this population, the implementation of abdominal angiography was significantly associated with lower in-hospital mortality among pediatric patients with blunt splenic or hepatic injury compared with nonimplementation of abdominal angiography.Type of studyPrognosis study.Level of evidenceIII     

Outcome of advanced renal cell carcinoma arising in end-stage renal disease: comparison with sporadic renal cell carcinoma

Clinical and Experimental Nephrology - The data regarding oncological outcome in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) arising in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are limited. Patients diagnosed with...