A possible pathogenic role of CD8+ T cells and their derived cytokine, IL-16, in SLE

Current investigations into the role of CD8+ T cells and their derived cytokine, interleukin (IL)-16, in the induction of CD4+ T cell abnormalities in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were reviewed and discussed on the basis of results mainly obtained in our laboratory.     

Hydrogen peroxide-induced Ca responses in CNS pericytes

Objective: The aims of the present study were to elucidate the interaction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Ca²⁺ response in central nervous system (CNS) pericytes. Methods: The intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration was measured using fluorescent Ca²⁺ indicator, fura-2, in cultured CNS pericytes. Results: Hydrogen peroxide evoked a dose-dependent increase in cytosolic Ca²⁺, which was completely inhibited by catalase. Removal of external Ca²⁺ or addition of nicardipine (1 μM) during application of hydrogen peroxide did not affect Ca²⁺ response. Incubation of the cells in Ca²⁺ free solution did not abolish but slightly reduced Ca²⁺ response by hydrogen peroxide. Ca²⁺ response to hydrogen peroxide was not altered by the depletion of intracellular Ca²⁺ by thapsigargin (1 μM). Pretreatment of the cells with tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein (100 μM) or tyrphostin A47 (30 μM) significantly reduced Ca²⁺ increase by hydrogen peroxide. Conclusions: These results indicate that hydrogen peroxide evokes Ca²⁺ increase predominantly by release from intracellular Ca²⁺ store, which may be regulated by tyrosine kinases.     

Tissue penetration and clinical experiences of aztreonam in obstetrics and gynecology

Tissue penetration and clinical efficacy were studied on aztreonam (SQ 26,776, AZT) in obstetrics and gynecology with the following results. Number of cases was too small to sufficiently review the penetration into each uterine tissue, the ovary and the tube after the intravenous injection of AZT 1 g. Overall clinical effect for all the 6 cases reviewed was more than "good". Also, neither side effect nor abnormal laboratory findings were reported. From the above results, AZT was considered to be a highly useful antibiotic in obstetrics and gynecology.     

Nutritional Assessment in Adult Patients with Dysphagia: A Scoping Review

Malnutrition negatively affects the quality of life of patients with dysphagia. Despite the need for nutritional status assessment in patients with dysphagia, standard, effective nutritional assessments are not yet available, and the identification of optimal nutritional assessment items for patients with dysphagia is inadequate. We conducted a scoping review of the use of nutritional assessment items in adult patients with oropharyngeal and esophageal dysphagia. The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched to identify articles published in English within the last 30 years. Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. Seven nutritional assessment categories were identified: body mass index (BMI), nutritional screening tool, anthropometric measurements, body composition, dietary assessment, blood biomarkers, and other. BMI and albumin were more commonly assessed in adults. The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM), defining new diagnostic criteria for malnutrition, includes the categories of BMI, nutritional screening tool, anthropometric measurements, body composition, and dietary assessment as its required components, but not the blood biomarkers and the “other” categories. We recommend assessing nutritional status, including GLIM criteria, in adult patients with dysphagia. This would standardize nutritional assessments in patients with dysphagia and allow future global comparisons of the prevalence and outcomes of malnutrition, as well as of appropriate interventions.     

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...     

Accumulation of L-[2-(F-18)]fluorophenylalanine in peri-infarct area in a patient with acute cerebral infarction

We studied the brain uptake of amino acid in a patient with acute cerebral infarction with L-[2-(F-18)] fluorophenylalanine and positron emission tomography. The increased accumulation of the ligand was specifically found in the peri-infarct area where oxygen metabolism was still maintained but decreased later in the 72-day follow-up period. The kinetic analysis revealed that increased accumulation was not due to increased transport from the blood to the brain but to delayed washout from the brain to the blood. Although the mechanism is still unknown, abnormally high accumulation of L-[F-18]fluorophenylalanine may predict delayed neuronal changes after ischemic insults of the brain.     

Removal of strontium by the chelating agent acetylamino propylidene diphosphonic acid in rats

Studies of the effects of the chelating agent, calcium acetylamino propylidene diphosphonic acid (Ca-APDA), on the removal of radioactive strontium with two administration modalities were carried out in rats. The parenteral (intraperitoneal) administration of 150, 300, or 600 mg kg(-1) Ca-APDA was carried out for 3 d, 10 min after exposure of the animals to the strontium injection. On the first day post-treatment, the retention of strontium in the whole body decreased to 90.1%, 83.9%, and 35.1% that of the control level, respectively. The strontium deposited in femur of 600 mg kg(-1) Ca-APDA group was lowered to 28.4% of the control value. A single oral dose of 600 mg kg(-1) Ca-APDA administered simultaneously with, or 10 min after, oral administration of strontium, radionuclide retention in the whole body was reduced after 1 d to 42.9% and 31.9% of the control, respectively; meanwhile the strontium deposited in the femur was reduced to 16.9% and 29.3% of the control. In conclusion, the results indicate the efficacy of the new agent, Ca-APDA, to remove radioactive strontium from the body, or to inhibit the strontium intestinal absorption, in radio-strontium contaminated individuals.     

Effect of rotational alignment on patellar tracking in total knee arthroplasty

Forty-four consecutive patients (65 knees) who underwent identical condylar type total knee arthroplasty were evaluated retrospectively. In 22 of the patients (32 knees), the femoral component was set parallel to the posterior condylar axis (neutrally aligned group). In the remaining 22 patients (33 knees), it was set in an external rotation position of 3 degrees to 5 degrees relative to the axis (externally aligned group). Of the total knee arthroplasties in the neutrally aligned group, 34% required lateral release, compared with only 6% in the externally aligned group; patellar tracking in the externally aligned group was significantly better than that in the neutrally aligned group. Postoperative measurements performed using computed tomography scans showed that the mean angle between the prosthetic posterior condylar axis and the transepicondylar axis was 7.9 degrees in the neutrally aligned group and 3.2 degrees in the externally aligned group. The external rotation setting of the femoral component diminished the need for lateral retinacular release and may decrease the rate of patellofemoral complications that occur after total knee arthroplasty.