Inhibition of autoimmune diabetes by oral administration of anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody

Anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) has been shown to induce tolerance and to be an effective treatment for diabetes both in animal models and in human trials. We have shown that anti-CD3 mAb given orally is biologically active in the gut and suppresses experimental autoimmune encephalitis by the induction of a regulatory T-cell that expresses latency-associated peptide (LAP) on its surface. In the present study, we investigated the effect of oral anti-CD3 mAb on the prevention of autoimmune diabetes in AKR mice in which the low-dose streptozocin (STZ) model induces autoimmunity to the beta-cells of the islets. We found that oral anti-CD3 mAb given at doses of 50 and 250 microg/feeding suppressed the incidence of diabetes in this model with the best effects seen at the 50 microg/dose. Associated with suppression, we observed decreased cell proliferation in the spleen and conversion of T-helper (Th)1 responses into Th2/Th3 responses in the periphery, including the pancreatic lymph nodes. Oral anti-CD3 mAb increased the expression of LAP on CD4(+) T-cells, and these cells could adoptively transfer protection. Protection by oral anti-CD3 was transforming growth factor-beta dependent. Our results demonstrate that oral anti-CD3 is effective in the model of STZ-induced diabetes and may be a useful form of therapy for type 1 diabetes in humans.     

Use of the pentax-AWS in a patient with Cormack 3a difficult airway

Pentax-AWS (AWS) (Pentax, Japan) is a rigid video laryngoscope with built-in 2.4 inch color CCD monitor paired with a disposal blade. It is developed for management of both normal and difficult airways. We used AWS in a 68-year-old male patient with known (Cormack grade 3a) difficult airway. Patient was sedated with fentanyl and midazolam to the level of Ramsay score 3. Patient's oral cavity was sprayed with 8% lidocaine. ETT placed on side channel of the AWS was connected to respiratory circuit via Bodai suction safe connector. Oxygen 6 l x min(-1) was adminisitered to prevent both desaturation of patient and fogging of blade during intubation procedure. Excessive saliva in the oropharynx was effectively removed with 14 Fr suction catheter through ETT via Bodai suction safe connector". Visualization of the patient's vocal cords was achieved easily (with POGO score 70%). The AWS's suction channel was alternatively used for topical anesthesia route with 10 Fr suction tube, and 4% lidocaine was injected onto the vocal cords. Tracheal intubation was successful uneventfully, and the patient's airway was secured without any postoperative complication.     

Anastomotic suture line recurrence of early rectal carcinomas that had been resected by laparoscopic surgery

We report herein a case of a 64-year-old woman found to have anastomotic suture line recurrence of an early rectal carcinoma. The patient had undergone laparoscopy-assisted low anterior rectal resection for an early rectal carcinoma 2 years before the anastomotic site recurrence. A follow-up colonoscopy revealed an elevated lesion on the anastomotic suture line. The diagnosis of adenocarcinoma was confirmed by biopsy. The patient underwent a resection of the remnant rectum. Histological examination of the resected specimen showed that the anastomotic site recurrence might have been caused by intraluminal implantation from the primary rectal cancer. We speculate that intraluminal implantation might be caused by insufficient intraoperative rectal irrigation because of limited access often encountered in laparoscopic surgery. We propose that it is necessary to devise a method with which to perform sufficient intraoperative rectal irrigation in laparoscopic surgery for rectal carcinoma.     

Anesthetic management for a child with pompe disease

Pompe or glycogen storage disease type II is a genetic disorder affecting the cardiac and skeletal muscle. A 4-year-old boy with this disease was scheduled to undergo an orthopedic operation for clubbed foot. He had cardiomyopathy and skeletal muscle weakness; but his cardiac function was normalized by the long-term enzyme replacement therapy. General anesthesia was slowly induced with oxygen, nitrous oxide, and sevoflurane, and tracheal intubation was achieved without any muscle relaxants. In combination with a caudal blockade with 6 ml of 0.375% ropivacaine, general anesthesia was successfully maintained with oxygen, nitrous oxide, and sevoflurane. We did not use muscle relaxants to avoid prolonged respiratory depression. The perioperative course was uneventful and no complication was observed.     

Negative BOLD effect on somato-motor inhibitory processing: An fMRI study

Inhibiting inappropriate behavior and thoughts in the current context is an essential ability for humans, but the neural mechanisms for response inhibitory processing are a matter of continuous debate. The aim of this event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study was to evaluate the negative blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) effect on inhibitory processing during go/no-go paradigms. Fifteen subjects performed two different types of somatosensory go/no-go paradigm: (1) button press and (2) count. Go and no-go stimuli were presented with an even probability. We observed a common negative activation during Movement No-go and Count No-go trials in the right SFG, corresponding to BA 8. These findings suggest that the right SFG region was responsible for the negative BOLD effect on inhibitory processing, which was independent of the required response mode. We hypothesized several possible explanations for the deactivation of the SFG during no-go trials.     

Administration schedule of daunorubicin for elderly patients with acute myelogenous leukemia: a single-institute experience

We evaluated the efficacy of daunorubicin (40 mg/m(2)/day for 5 days, 200 mg/m(2)/cycle) combined with standard dose of cytarabine (100 mg/m(2)/day for 7 days) for acute myelogenous leukemia patients aged 65-74 years as induction therapy. Complete remission (81.3%) was achieved in 13 of 16 patients following the therapeutic program. The median duration of recovering absolute neutolophilic counts over 1000/μl and platelet counts over 100 000/μl were 33 days and 27 days, respectively. None of the patients had any adverse cardiac complications or died during administration of the induction therapy. Patients achieving complete remission received post-remission therapy consisting of two regimens other than induction therapy. The 3-year disease-free and overall survival rates were 36.9 and 50.0%, respectively. Extending the total period of the daunorubicin therapy might be an alternative to increasing the daily dose of daunorubicin in the induction therapy for elderly patients who were candidates for receiving intensified chemotherapy.     

Aprepitant successful for controlling nausea and vomiting in a case having difficulty with control treatment in a standard antienemic therapy involving chemotherapy for gallbladder cancer postoperative recurrence

This case was a 62-year-old female. She underwent radical surgery for advanced gallbladder cancer 2 years ago after preoperative chemotherapy consisting of GEM/5-FU and CDDP (GFP). Two years after surgical treatment, multiple lung metastases and lymph node metastases appeared, and therefore, GFP chemotherapy was introduced. Rapid emesis occurred at two-cycle medication the first day, and was continued for several days. It was difficult to control the emesis by standard antienemic therapy. We therefore used aprepitant, a new medicine for antiemetic therapy. It had an excellent effect, and chemotherapy for this patient is still being continued.