Regression of a presumed meningioma with the antiestrogen agent mepitiostane. Case report

This 68-year-old woman underwent a distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer in August 1994. A presumed meningioma of the falx was found incidentally on a staging examination of the gastric cancer, but the meningioma was not treated with surgery. Instead, after gastrectomy the patient received tegafur as adjuvant chemotherapy until February 1996, when she was readmitted to the hospital because of loss of appetite and emaciation but with no recurrence of the gastric cancer. A computerized tomography scan obtained during this second admission showed no change in the meningioma. To improve her general condition, tegafur was discontinued and she was started on a course of the antiestrogen agent mepitiostane. Administration of mepitiostane for approximately 2 years resulted in a marked regression (73%) of the meningioma. This is the first reported case of a presumed meningioma that regressed as a result of use of the antiestrogen agent mepitiostane.     

Mini mid-line skin incision--a more cosmetic challenge for surgery of funnel chest: report of a case

We performed a operation using a mini mid-line skin incision for ten-year-old male with funnel chest. The skin incision was made from the level of nipple to the lower end of the xiphoid process. He had sternal elevation as corrective surgery. There was no complication and he discharged at 11th day after surgery. We believe our method is more appropriate in fulfilling the cosmetic needs for the patient of funnel chest.     

Virome of Ixodes ricinus,Dermacentor reticulatus,and Haemaphysalis concinna Ticks from Croatia

Tick-borne diseases are a serious threat to both public and veterinary health. In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing to characterize the virome of three tick species implicated in the spread of vector-borne disease throughout Croatia. Ten viruses were identified, including seven potential novel species within the viral families Flaviviridae, Nyamiviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Peribunyaviridae, Phenuiviridae, and Nairoviridae.     

Anti-SARS CoV-2 IgG in COVID-19 Patients with Hematological Diseases: A Single-center,Retrospective Study in Japan

Objective Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread globally. Although the relationship between anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies and COVID-19 severity has been reported, information is lacking regarding the seropositivity of patients with particular types of diseases, including hematological diseases. Methods In this single-center, retrospective study, we compared SARS-CoV-2 IgG positivity between patients with hematological diseases and those with non-hematological diseases. Results In total, 77 adult COVID-19 patients were enrolled. Of these, 30 had hematological disorders, and 47 had non-hematological disorders. The IgG antibody against the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein was detected less frequently in patients with hematological diseases (60.0%) than in those with non-hematological diseases (91.5%; p=0.029). Rituximab use was significantly associated with seronegativity (p=0.010). Conclusion Patients with hematological diseases are less likely to develop anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies than those with non-hematological diseases, which may explain the poor outcomes of COVID-19 patients in this high-risk group.     

An improved assay of thyrotropin in dried blood samples on filter paper as a screening test for neonatal hypothyroidism.

A method for measuring thyrotropin (TSH) in eluates of dried blood samples on filter paper was evaluated and improved as a screening test for neonatal hypothyroidism. A linear relationship between the volume of eluate and the TSH value and good recoveries of endogenous TSH (104%) and added TSH (89%) were obtained, indicating that TSH in dried blood was extracted well by overnight elution and determined accurately by radioimmunoassay. The TSH content in the central portion of a spot was less (71%) than that in the peripheral portion. The TSH in dried blood samples on filter paper was stable at 4 degrees C, room temperature (about 25 degrees C) or 37 degrees C for 1 month. The TSH values of eluates were correlated with those of whole blood (r = 0.90) and serum (r = 0.81). Cases of primary hypothyroidism cound be readily differentiated from normal subjects by this method, even when eluates of their blood were combined with those of normal blood for assay of TSH.     

Colostral antibody protection and interference with immunity in lambs born from sheep vaccinated with an inactivated Bluetongue serotype 8 vaccine

Widespread vaccination programmes against Bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV-8), using inactivated vaccines, are being carried out across many countries in northern, western and southern Europe. This study investigates the extent and length of colostral antibody protection, as well as the degree of colostral antibody induced interference of the immune response to BTV-8, in sheep. Significantly lower titres of neutralising antibodies were transferred in colostrum to lambs born from sheep vaccinated once as opposed those vaccinated twice (single vaccine in the first year and a booster vaccine in the second year). On BTV-8 challenge, lambs born from sheep vaccinated on two occasions, with the second booster vaccine given approximately 1 month prior to lambing, were protected from clinical disease for up to 14 weeks. BTV-8 was isolated from 5 of the 22 challenged lambs, although only one of these lambs showed a transient rise in body temperature with no other clinical signs. Lambs born from ewes given a second booster vaccine 1 month prior to lambing, are likely to be protected from clinical disease for at least 14 weeks, whereas lambs born from ewes vaccinated once are likely to be protected for a shorter time. Colostral antibodies present in the 13–14-week-old lambs appeared to interfere with the humoral response to challenge virus. These results suggest that colostral antibodies may interfere with vaccination in lambs up to at least 14 weeks of age.     

Bilateral subchondral insufficiency fracture of the femoral head after renal transplantation: a case report

This report describes the case of a 47-year-old woman who was found to have subchondral insufficiency fractures in both femoral heads after renal transplantation. Initially, plain radiographs showed no obvious changes, but magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an irregular, discontinuous, low-intensity band on the T1-weighted image of both hips. The patient was treated nonsurgically. Ten months after onset, the pain in both hips disappeared, and plain radiographs and MRI showed no abnormalities. Subchondral insufficiency fracture should be considered in the diagnosis of patients who have hip pain after renal transplantation.     

Acute Myeloid Leukemia Developing with Acute Pancreatitis Mimicking Autoimmune Pancreatitis

A 33-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for fever and abdominal pain. A blood analysis revealed pancytopenia and increased serum pancreatic enzymes with disseminated intravascular coagulation. A detailed examination revealed acute pancreatitis, with diffuse swelling of the pancreas and diffuse beaded dilatation of the main pancreatic duct, which mimicked autoimmune pancreatitis complicated by acute myeloid leukemia. Systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy led to the remission of leukemia and pancreatitis. We hypothesized that the etiology of acute pancreatitis was invasion of leukemia cells. Acute pancreatitis is rare as a symptom of leukemia; however, we should consider the possibility of leukemia during the differential diagnosis of acute pancreatitis.