Lung miliary micro‐nodules in human T‐cell leukemia virus type I carriers

Human T‐cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV‐1) carriers are rarely subject to inflammatory disorders in multiple organs, other than the well‐known complication, adult T‐cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL). HTLV‐1 associated bronchiolo‐alveolar disorder (HABA) has been proposed as an immune mediated pulmonary reaction seen rarely in HTLV‐1 carriers. The reported clinico‐pathological patterns of HABA are diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) and lymphoid interstitial pneumonia (LIP). We here report three cases of HTLV‐1 carriers showing miliary micro‐nodules throughout both lungs. Microscopic examination in the video assisted thoracic surgery biopsies demonstrated that all cases had multiple discrete micro‐nodules which consisted of marked lymphoid infiltration, granulomas, eosinophils and a few foci of necrosis inside the granuloma. No findings indicating ATLL, other neoplastic conditions, infection or interstitial pneumonia, including DPB and LIP, were present following panels of special staining and immunohistochemical examinations. Two patients improved without treatment within one month, with no evidence of recurrence after 7 years. One patient showed slow deterioration of lung reticular shadows in spite of a low dose corticosteroid therapy (prednisolone 10 mg/day). We believe these cases may be a newly recognized variant of HABA.     

Pentraxin 3 as a new biomarker of peritoneal injury in peritoneal dialysis patients

It is well known that bioincompatible peritoneal dialysate plays a central role in the development of peritoneal fibrosis. Peritoneal inflammation continues even after the cessation of peritoneal dialysate stimulation. It is important to establish the definition of persistent inflammation in the peritoneal cavity at the cessation of peritoneal dialysis (PD). The objective of the present study was to determine whether pentraxin 3 (PTX3) in peritoneal effluent (PE) may be a new biomarker in PD patients. Serum, PE, and peritoneal specimens were obtained from 50 patients with end-stage kidney disease at Juntendo University Hospital. Samples of 19 patients were obtained at the initiation of PD and those of 31 patients at the cessation of PD. PTX3, high-sensitivity CRP, and MMP-2 and IL-6 were analyzed. An immunohistological examination using an anti-PTX3 antibody was performed. Expressions of PTX3 were observed in endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and mesothelial cells in the peritoneum. The PTX3 level in PE at the cessation of PD was significantly higher than that at the initiation of PD. Effluent PTX3 levels in patients with a history of peritonitis or a PD duration of more than 8 years were significantly higher than those in patients without peritonitis or patients with a PD duration of <8 years. The PTX3 level was significantly correlated with MMP-2 and IL-6 levels in PE, as well as the thickness of the submesothelial compact zone and the vasculopathy. It appears that PTX3 may be a new biomarker of peritoneal inflammation and progressive fibrosis.     

Alanine Aminotransferase Elevation during Peginterferon Alpha-2a or Alpha-2b plus Ribavirin Treatment

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation was occassionally observed during the treatment with combination peginterferon alpha plus ribavirin. Two forms of peginterferon are currently available as a standard of care with or without direct-acting antivirals against hepatitis C virus (HCV). Until the appearance of interferon-sparing regimen, peginterferon alpha plus ribavirin will play a central role in the eradication of HCV. In the present study, we compared ALT elevations in response to peginterferon alpha-2a plus ribavirin or peginterferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin in HCV genotype-1-infected patients. There were no significant differences in ALT elevations between treatments with the two peginterferons, but in a comparison of the proportions of patients with transient ALT elevation from baseline between the two groups, transient ALT elevation was observed more in sustained virological response (SVR) patients treated with peginterferon alpha-2a than with peginterferon alpha-2b. However, no patients discontinued treatment due to ALT elevation. Patients with transient ALT elevation from baseline during the treatment had less favorable IL28B rs8099917 genotype in the peginterferon alpha-2b group. Patients achieving SVR tended to have lower ALT levels, although some had persistent ALT elevation during treatment. In conclusion, clinicians should pay attention to possible ALT elevation during the treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients.     

心脏骤停患者心肺复苏抢救中的影响因素分析

目的 探讨心脏骤停患者心肺复苏抢救中的影响因素。方法 回顾性收集2015年9月-2018年9月急救中心收治的304例成年心脏骤停患者的临床数据,包括患者基本人口学信息、现场心肺复苏(cardio-pulmonary resuscitaion,CPR)情况[包括是否有目击者、目击者是否实施CPR、胸部按压分数(chest compression fraction,CCF)、到达急救中心时间等],患者24 h的存活率,采用单因素分析和Logistic回归分析研究心脏骤停患者CPR后24 h存活率的影响因素。结果 单因素分析发现,目击者是否进行CPR及接受不同CCF的患者,其24 h存活率比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);Logistic回归分析显示,CCF≤80%为24 h存活率的危险因素(P＜0.05),目击者进行CPR为24 h存活率的保护因素(P＜0.05)。结论 对心脏骤停患者,目击者尽早实施CPR及增加有效持续胸部按压时间,能够提高心脏骤停患者心肺复苏后的24 h存活率。     

Effect of exposure parameters and gutta-percha cone size on fracture-like artifacts in endodontically treated teeth on cone-beam computed tomography images

Oral Radiology - To ascertain the effects of exposure parameters (tube current and tube voltage) and the gutta-percha cone (GPC) size on root fracture-like artifacts obtained with cone-beam...     

A targeting model of boron neutron-capture therapy to hepatoma cellsin vivo with a boronated anti-(α-fetoprotein) monoclonal antibody

We described previously that¹⁰B atoms delivered by monoclonal antibody (mAb) exerted a cytotoxic effect on AH66 cells in a dose-dependent manner upon thermal neutron irradiationin vitro. In the present study, the delivering capacity of boronated anti-(-fetoprotein) (AFP) mAb to carry¹⁰B atoms to AFP-producing tumor xenografts in nude mice was determined. Boronated mAb was prepared by conjugating 50 mM ¹⁰B compound to an anti-AFP mAb (2 mg/ml) usingN-succinimidyl-3-) (2-pyridyldithio) propionate. The number of¹⁰B atoms conjugated directly to the mAb was estimated to be 459/antibody by prompt -ray spectrometry. Boron concentrations in tumor tissue obtained 12, 24, 72, and 120 h after injection of 3.0 mg¹⁰B-conjugated anti-AFP mAb were 11.10±3.12 (SD,n=6), 29.30±5.11, 33.02±11.8, and 12.91±5.62 ppm respectively. For control¹⁰B-conjugated anti-dinitrophenol (DNP) mAb, the values were 9.59±0.99, 10.37±2.86, 10.00±2.95, and 8.83±4.71 ppm respectively. The concentrations in blood were less than 0.40±0.10 ppm with anti-AFP mAb and less than 0.51±0.15 ppm with anti-DNP mAb at each sampling time (12, 24, 72, and 120 h). The number of¹⁰B atoms delivered to the tumor cells was calculated to be 0.62×10⁹, 1.63×10⁹, 1.84×10⁹ and 0.72×10⁹ at each sampling time after injection of¹⁰B-anti-AFP mAb. The amount of¹⁰B atoms necessary for effective boron neutron-capture therapy was estimated to be 10⁹/tumor cell. We were able to carry 1.84×10^{9 10}B atoms to AH66 tumor cells by using¹⁰B-anti-AFP mAb. The accumulation reached its peak 72 h after injection. These data indicated that the¹⁰B-conjugated antitumor mAb could deliver a sufficient amount of¹⁰B atoms to the tumor cells to induce cytotoxic effects 72 h after injection upon thermal neutron irradiation.Abbreviations BNCT boron neutron-capture therapy - AFP -fetoprotein - SPDP N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithia) propionate - DNP dinitrophenol     

Plasma interleukin-6 is associated with coagulation in poorly controlled patients with Type 2 diabetes.

AIMS: We investigated the relationship between interleukin (IL)-6 and coagulation, i.e. whether changes in the plasma IL-6 are associated with those in coagulation markers (D dimer and fibrinogen) after glycaemic control with sulphonylurea or insulin in poorly controlled patients with Type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We studied 42 patients with Type 2 diabetes, including 19 subsequently treated with sulphonylurea, 23 treated with insulin and 48 control subjects. All patients were in poor glycaemic control and were hospitalized for 3 weeks. At the beginning and end of treatment, we measured plasma concentrations of IL-6, fibrinogen, and D dimer. RESULTS: Plasma concentrations of IL-6 and D dimer were significantly higher in diabetic patients than in controls (P<0.0001 for both). In all patients with diabetes, the plasma concentration of IL-6 decreased significantly (P<0.001) after treatment. Changes in the plasma IL-6 during hospitalization were positively correlated with those in plasma D dimer and fibrinogen (r=0.664, P<0.0001; r=0.472, P=0.0042, respectively). Treatment with sulphonylurea or insulin caused a similar fall in the plasma IL-6 concentration with a concomitant decrease in the BMI and an equal improvement in glycaemia. CONCLUSIONS: In poorly controlled patients with Type 2 diabetes, plasma IL-6 concentrations were reduced significantly even by short-term metabolic control. As changes in the plasma concentrations of D dimer are related to plasma IL-6, plasma IL-6 may reflect a pro-coagulant as well as an inflammatory state in patients with Type 2 diabetes.