Gross hematuria after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination: questionnaire survey in Japan

Clinical and Experimental Nephrology - Recent clinical reports indicate a correlation between gross hematuria after the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in patients with glomerulonephritis,...     

Revisiting Low-Risk Thyroid Papillary Microcarcinomas Resected Without Observation: Was Immediate Surgery Necessary?

Introduction

Low-risk thyroid papillary microcarcinomas (PMCs) without evidence of metastasis grow slowly if at all. However, we recommended surgery for tumors touching the trachea (TR) or located in the course of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RN). Here we compared the cases of low-risk PMC patients who underwent immediate surgery to cases of TR- and RN-involved PMCs.

Materials and methods

We enrolled 1143 low-risk PMC patients who underwent immediate surgery in the years 2006–2014. The PMCs of 437 patients touched the TR on imaging studies: 270, 104, and 63 were graded as low, intermediate, and high risk, respectively, for TR invasion based on the angles between the tumor and the TR surface. The tumor was in the course of the RN in 144 patients, with 35 graded low risk and 109 high risk for RN invasion based on the normal rim of the thyroid in the direction of the RN.

Results

Invasion of the TR cartilage was observed only in high-risk patients. Peritracheal connective tissue was resected in 21, 15, and 6 of the high-, intermediate- and low-risk patients, respectively. Significant invasion of the RN requiring complete resection was observed in only nine patients at high risk for RN invasion. The incidence of TR invasion in high- and intermediate patients and the incidence of RN invasion in the high-risk patients were significantly higher than those of the low-risk patients. Tumors <7 mm did not show TR or RN invasion.

Conclusion

Among PMCs that touched the TR or were located in the course of the RN, observation could be the first choice for tumors <?7 mm and those ≥?7 mm judged as low risk for TR or RN invasion. However, for PMCs with high-risk features, immediate surgery after cytological diagnosis by a needle aspiration biopsy is recommended.

     

Rapid determination of viral RNA sequences in mosquitoes collected in the field

A method for rapid determination of viral RNA sequences (RDV) was applied to homogenates of Aedes aegypti collected in Thailand in an area in which dengue fever (dengue hemorrhagic fever) is endemic, using the mosquito cell line C6/36. Nucleic acid sequences of dengue virus type 4 and cell fusing agent virus were detected. This RDV method has the potential to become a standard method for detection of both known and newly emerging, unknown mosquito-borne viruses.     

Requirement of apelin-apelin receptor system for oxidative stress-linked atherosclerosis

The recently identified endogenous peptide apelin and its specific apelin receptor (APJ) are currently being considered as potential regulators in vascular tissue. Previously, we reported apelin mediates phosphorylation of myosin light chain and elicits vasoconstriction in vascular smooth muscle. In this study, physiological roles of the apelin-APJ system were investigated on atherosclerosis. In APJ and apolipoprotein E double-knockout (APJ(-/-)ApoE(-/-)) mice fed a high-cholesterol diet, atherosclerotic lesions were dramatically reduced when compared with APJ(+/+) ApoE(-/-) mice, in the absence of an effect of cholesterol levels. Immunohistochemical detection of smooth muscle cells, using a smooth muscle alpha-actin antibody, showed greatly reduced staining for these cells in lesions of APJ(-/-)ApoE(-/-) mice fed a high-cholesterol diet. Vascular production of superoxide radicals and the expression of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase subunits were decreased in APJ(-/-)ApoE(-/-) mice compared with APJ(+/+)ApoE(-/-) mice fed a standard normal diet. In vascular smooth muscle cells, apelin induced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase subunit expression. Apelin also induced vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, which was inhibited by superoxide dismutase or diphenylene iodonium. The apelin-APJ system is a mediator of oxidative stress in vascular tissue, and thus we propose it to be a critical factor in atherogenesis under high-cholesterol dietary conditions. APJ deficiency is preventative against oxidative stress-linked atherosclerosis.     

Mechanism of the toxicity induced by natural humic acid on human vascular endothelial cells

Humic acid (HA), a group of high‐molecular weight organic compounds characterized by an ability to bind heavy metals, is normally found in natural water. Although the impairment of vascular endothelial cells in the presence of humic substances has been reported to be involved in some diseases, the mechanisms responsible for this involvement remain unclear. In this study, we examined the cytotoxicity of HA obtained from peatland in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, to human vascular endothelial cells, as well as the mechanisms behind these effects. It was found that 50 mg/L HA showed cytotoxicity, which we considered to be mediated by apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway because of an increase in the expression of caspases 6 and 9 in response to HA administration. In addition, this cytotoxicity was enhanced when cells in this experimental system were exposed to oxidative stress, while it was decreased by the addition of vitamin C. Thus, we conclude that the apoptosis induced by HA depends upon oxidative stress. Furthermore, an iron chelator, DFO, showed a tendency to decrease HA‐induced cytotoxicity, suggesting that iron may potentially mediate HA‐induced oxidative stress. In conclusion, long‐term consumption of HA‐rich water obtained from our study area may cause damage to endothelial cells and subsequent chronic health problems. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 29: 916–925, 2014.