The Histology of the Lung in Neonates with Tricuspid Valve Disease and Gross Cardiomegaly Due to Severe Regurgitation

Lung autopsies from four neonates with Ebstein's anomaly or tricuspid valve dysplasia and gross cardiomegaly were examined. The mean cardiothoracic ratio was 92 ± 0.5%. The degrees of pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary artery muscularization were assessed and were compared with those in lungs from four controls and four patients with diaphragmatic hernias. Lung and body weight ratios and radial alveolar counts, which reflect pulmonary hypoplasia and immaturity, were significantly decreased only in patients with diaphragmatic hernia. The thickness of the medial muscle layer in small pulmonary arteries was greater in patients with diaphragmatic hernia; however, in patients with tricuspid valve disease, it was relatively small. Abnormal vascular muscle extension was seen only in patients with diaphragmatic hernia. In the cases of tricuspid valve disease, although cardiomegaly and lung compression were severe, lung hypoplasia and immaturity were not, and neither abnormal medial thickening nor extension were found. Our results suggest that, at least in full-term infants with tricuspid valve disease, surgical relief of lung compression may improve respiratory function, even if the cardiomegaly is severe.     

The clinical statistics of the operations at the Department of Urology, Tokatsu Hospital: from 1994 to 1999

We investigated the clinical statistics of the operations and inpatients since the establishment of the department in June 1994 up to May 1999. The total number of inpatients was 1,269 (1,047 males and 222 females), and a total of 1,098 operations were performed. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotriopy (ESWL) was also introduced in 1997, and in addition, it seemed that the number of operations and inpatients would be increasing in future.     

Improved trends in survival and engraftment after single cord blood transplantation for adult acute myeloid leukemia

Unrelated cord blood transplantation (CBT) is an alternative curative option for adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who need allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) but lack an HLA-matched related or unrelated donor. However, large-scale data are lacking on CBT outcomes for unselected adult AML. To investigate the trends of survival and engraftment after CBT over the past 22 years, we retrospectively evaluated the data of patients with AML in Japan according to the time period of CBT (1998–2007 vs 2008–2013 vs 2014–2019). A total of 5504 patients who received single-unit CBT as first allogeneic HCT for AML were included. Overall survival (OS) at 2 years significantly improved over time. The improved OS among patients in ≥ complete remission (CR)3 and active disease at CBT was mainly due to a reduction of relapse-related mortality, whereas among patients in first or second CR at CBT, this was due mainly to a reduction of non-relapse mortality. The trends of neutrophil engraftment also improved over time. This experience demonstrated that the survival and engraftment rate after CBT for this group has improved over the past 22 years.Subject terms: Acute myeloid leukaemia, Cancer immunotherapy     

Acute promyelocytic leukemia: an unusual cause showing prolonged disseminated intravascular coagulation after placental abruption

Background Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) caused by placental abruption usually improves rapidly after prompt delivery and adequate anti-DIC treatment. Case A 30-year-old nulliparous woman suffered from placental abruption at the 25th week of pregnancy, and emergent cesarean section was done immediately. She exhibited DIC, which continued even after termination of the pregnancy and anti-DIC treatment. She also showed neutropenia. We closely observed her, and at the 58th day postpartum, blast cells appeared in the peripheral blood and she was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Induction chemotherapy was done successfully. The close observation after delivery enabled us to make the prompt diagnosis/treatment, leading to the complete remission. Conclusion APL should be added to the list of differential diagnosis when DIC persists even after prompt delivery and appropriate anti-DIC treatment after placental abruption.     

Genetically Diverse Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1/H5N8) Viruses among Wild Waterfowl and Domestic Poultry,Japan, 2021

Genetic analyses of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 subtype viruses isolated from the Izumi Plain, Japan, revealed cocirculation of 2 genetic groups of clade 2.3.4.4b viruses among migratory waterfowl. Our findings demonstrate that both continuous surveillance and timely information sharing of avian influenza viruses are valuable for rapid risk assessment.     

Transient receptor potential channels in rat renal microcirculation: actions of angiotensin II

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the calcium-activating mechanisms mediating glomerular arteriolar constriction by angiotensin II (Ang II). METHODS: Immunohistochemical and physiological studies were carried out, using antibody against transient receptor potential (TRP)-1 and an isolated perfused kidney model. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical experiments demonstrated that TRP-1 proteins were transcribed on both afferent and efferent arteriolar myocytes. In the first series of physiological experiments, Ang II (0.3 nmol/L) considerably constricted afferent (20.2 +/- 0.9 to 14.9 +/- 0.7 microm) and efferent arterioles (18.4 +/- 0.7 to 14.0 +/- 0.7 microm). The addition of nifedipine (1 micromol/L) restored decrements in afferent (to 20.0 +/- 0.8 microm) but not efferent arteriolar diameters. Further administration of SKF-96365 (100 micromol/L), a TRP channel blocker, reversed efferent arteriolar constriction (to 16.2 +/- 0.8 micromol/L). In the second group, although 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (100 micromol/L), an inhibitor of inositol trisphosphate-induced calcium release (IP3CR), did not alter glomerular arteriolar diameters, it prevented Ang II-induced afferent arteriolar constriction and attenuated efferent arteriolar constriction (18.8 +/- 0.8 to 16.9 +/- microm). Subsequent removal of extracellular calcium abolished residual efferent arteriolar constriction (to 19.1 +/- 0.8 microm). CONCLUSIONS: Our data provide evidence that Ang II elicits IP3CR, possibly inducing a cellular response that activates voltage-dependent calcium channels on afferent arterioles. The present results suggest that Ang II-induced efferent arteriolar constriction involves IP3CR and calcium influx sensitive to SKF-96365.