Genetic diversity of Theileria orientalis in tick vectors detected in Hokkaido and Okinawa,Japan

In the present study, we investigated the possible tick vectors that can transmit Theileria orientalis in eastern Hokkaido, Japan. Questing ticks collected from three different districts, Taiki, Otofuke, and Shin-Hidaka, of Hokkaido included Ixodes persulcatus, Haemaphysalis megaspinosa, Haemaphysalis douglasi, and Ixodes ovatus, while all the ticks collected from Yonaguni island of Okinawa were identified as Haemaphysalis longicornis. When the ticks were screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for T. orientalis, the parasite was commonly detected among all tick species. Genotype-specific PCR assays revealed that all tick species in Hokkaido were predominantly detected with type 2, while ticks collected from Okinawa (H. longicornis) were predominantly detected with type 1. Consistent with the genetic diversity of T. orientalis in ticks, genotyping PCR assays from cattle grazed in the same Hokkaido sampling locations identified type 2 as the most prevalent genotype. This study provides the first identification of I. persulcatus, H. megaspinosa, H. douglasi, and I. ovatus as possible tick vectors of T. orientalis, and finds that the variety of vectors apparently capable of transmitting T. orientalis is wider in Japan than expected. The authors suggest that tick control strategies should be modified in Hokkaido based on the seasonal activities of ticks identified in the present study.     

Ascaris suum infection modulates inflammation: Implication of CD4+ CD25high Foxp3+ T cells and IL‐10

Helminth infections have the ability to modulate host's immune response through mechanisms that allow the chronic persistence of the worms in the host. Here, we investigated the mechanisms involved on the suppressive effect of Ascaris suum infection using a murine experimental model of LPS‐induced inflammation. We found that infection with A. suum markedly inhibited leucocyte influx induced by LPS into air pouches, suppressed secretion of pro‐inflammatory cytokines (IL‐1β, TNF‐α and IL‐6) and induced high levels of IL‐10 and TGF‐β. Augmented frequency of CD4⁺ CD25^high Foxp3⁺ T cells was observed in the mesenteric lymph nodes of infected mice. Adoptive transfer of purified CD4⁺ CD25⁺ T cells to recipient uninfected mice demonstrated that these cells were able to induce a suppressive effect in the LPS‐induced inflammation in air pouch model. In addition, adoptive transfer of CD4⁺ CD25⁺ T cells derived from IL‐10 knockout mice suggests that this suppressive effect of A. suum infection involves IL‐10 cytokine. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that A. suum experimental infection was capable of suppressing LPS‐induced inflammation by mechanisms, which seem to be dependent on responses of CD4⁺ CD25⁺ T cells and secretion of IL‐10 cytokine.     

Genetic variations in the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region influence attraction for a favorite person and the associated interactions between the central nervous and immune systems

Limbic system activation that occurs when a person experiences several emotions is primarily represented by the amygdala output that influences autonomic brainstem nuclei that control autonomic nervous function, thus modulating the endocrine and immune systems. Amygdala activity is modulated by the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5HTTLPR); however, whether variations in 5HTTLPR influence central nervous and immune activities in response to positive stimuli remains unclear. Here, we found that seeing a favorite person induced significantly higher amygdala activity in individuals with the 5HTTLPR SS genotype than in others. This activity was positively correlated with changes in the NK cell proportion among peripheral lymphocytes. Thus, 5HTTLPR influences attraction and the associated interactions between the central nervous and immune systems in affectively positive situations.     

Heterogeneity and clinical role of thymidine phosphorylase activity in gastric cancer.

We examined the dThdPase activity in primary gastric cancer and metastatic lymph nodes from human subjects. The dThdPase activities were significantly higher in primary tumors than in the normal gastric wall, particularly in the center of the tumor rather than in the periphery (P<0.01). Tumors with a high dThdPase activity often had venous invasion (P<0.01). The dThdPase activities were significantly higher in metastatic lymph nodes than in the nodes without metastasis (P<0.01). The intratumoral heterogeneity of dThdPase activity was identified and cancer cells with high dThdPase activity may indicate that metastasis will likely occur.     

Hemostasis during the early stages of trauma: comparison with disseminated intravascular coagulation

Introduction

We tested two hypotheses that disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and acute coagulopathy of trauma-shock (ACOTS) in the early phase of trauma are similar disease entities and that the DIC score on admission can be used to predict the prognosis of patients with coagulopathy of trauma.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study of 562 trauma patients, including 338 patients whose data were obtained immediately after admission to the emergency department. We collected serial data for the platelet counts, global markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis, and antithrombin levels. DIC was diagnosed according to the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine (JAAM) DIC scoring system, and ACOTS was defined as a prothrombin-time ratio of >1.2.

Results

The higher levels of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) and D-dimer and greater FDP/D-dimer ratios in the DIC patients suggested DIC with the fibrinolytic phenotype. The DIC patients with the fibrinolytic phenotype exhibited persistently lower platelet counts and fibrinogen levels, increased prothrombin time ratios, higher FDP and D-dimer levels, and lower antithrombin levels compared with the non-DIC patients on arrival to the emergency department and during the early stage of trauma. Almost all ACOTS patients met the criteria for a diagnosis of DIC; therefore, the same changes were observed in the platelet counts, global markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis, and antithrombin levels as noted in the DIC patients. The JAAM DIC score obtained immediately after arrival to the emergency department was an independent predictor of massive transfusion and death due to trauma and correlated with the amount of blood transfused.

Conclusions

Patients who develop DIC with the fibrinolytic phenotype during the early stage of trauma exhibit consumption coagulopathy associated with increased fibrin(ogen)olysis and lower levels of antithrombin. The same is true in patients with ACOTS. The JAAM DIC score can be used to predict the prognosis of patients with coagulopathy of trauma.