Immunization with recombinant surface antigen P50 of Babesia gibsoni expressed in insect cells induced parasite growth inhibition in dogs

This is a report of a vaccine trial directed against Babesia gibsoni infection in dogs with the use of the recombinant antigen P50. Dogs immunized with P50 showed partial protection manifested as a significantly low level of parasitemia. The results indicated that P50 is a primary vaccine candidate molecule against canine B. gibsoni infection.     

Low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma arising in the big toe

Low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (LGFMS) is a rare tumor. Reported herein is a case of LGFMS arising in the big toe. The patient was a 58-year-old man who underwent excision of the tumor. The tumor was well-demarcated. Histologically, there were proliferating spindle-shaped tumor cells arranged in a whorled growth pattern, and the stroma showed hyalinized collagen bundles and a myxoid matrix. Nuclear mitotic figures were conspicuous in part. A large rosette-like structure with hyalinized stroma was found, which is characteristic of LGFMS. The differential diagnosis included tumor occurrence in adults; tending to arise in distal extremities; and having bland fibromyxoid histological features, such as fibroma of tendon sheath, low-grade myxofibrosarcoma and acral myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma. It was not possible to detect the FUS/CREB3L2 and FUS/CREB3L1 fusion genes from the formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue, although the histological features of the present case were typical of LGFMS. LGFMS may become more common with time, and unique cases may accumulate.     

Role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in otitis media with effusion in adults

Otitis media with effusion (OME) is one of the most common ear diseases. Bacterial endotoxins and several inflammatory cytokines appear to be involved in the pathogenesis of OME in children; however, little is known of the immunological aspects of the onset of OME in adults. We sought to determine the presence of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) as well as interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and presumably secreted), and endotoxin in middle ear effusions (MEEs) from adult patients with OME. In addition, the levels of MIF in MEEs from adults and children were compared. MEE was obtained from 95 adults and 11 children. The levels of MIF, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and RANTES were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the concentrations of endotoxin and total protein were determined by the Endospec assay and bicinchoninic acid assay, respectively. MIF was detected in 97.9% of the MEEs from adults, while endotoxin, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and RANTES were detected in 96.8, 12.6, 5.3, and 43.9%, respectively. In addition, the level of MIF was significantly higher than those of endotoxin, IL-1beta, and TNF-alpha. A positive correlation between the levels of MIF and endotoxin was observed. MIF and endotoxin were detected in 81.8 and 72.7%, respectively, of the MEEs from the children. The level of MIF was significantly higher in the children, and conversely that of endotoxin was significantly higher in the adults. These results suggest that the interaction between MIF and endotoxin may promote fluid collection in the middle ear, particularly in adults.     

A model for the embryological instruction of the branchial arteries

It is difficult to teach students about the embryological transformation of the branchial arteries. In mammals, six pairs of branchial arteries develop, but all are not present at the same embryological stage. The first, second, fifth and a part of right sixth branchial artery disappear early in embryological development. The remaining third, fourth and sixth branchial arteries mainly constitute the arterial system of the breast. The aorta and pulmonary trunk are derived from the truncus arteriosus. Because of the complexity of this developmental process, we have devised a user-friendly model in order to assist with educational presentations. In this model, the shrinkage of a vessel has been represented by inserting a wire inside of the hose representing the artery. Degenerated or disappearing parts of the vessel are removable by using hooks and Velcro tape. Branchial arteries, truncus arteriosus, aortic sac and dorsal arteries are represented by different colors. The descent of the heart is represented by the relational change between larynx and heart. Additionally we represented the vagus nerve and recurrent laryngeal nerve by using strings. The right vagus nerve can move dorsally and the left ventrally by rotating the digestive tract. The right recurrent laryngeal nerve can move superiorly to hook around the right subclavian artery, and left recurrent laryngeal nerve can hook around the ductus arteriosus formed by the left sixth branchial artery.     

Quantitative evaluation of hand cranking a roller pump in a crisis management drill

The heart-lung machines for open-heart surgery have improved over the past 50 years; they rarely break down and are almost always equipped with backup batteries. The hand-cranking procedure only becomes necessary when a pump breaks down during perfusion or after the batteries have run out. In this study, the performance of hand cranking a roller pump was quantitatively assessed by an objective method using the ECCSIM-Lite educational simulator system. A roller pump connected to an extracorporeal circuit with an oxygenator and with gravity venous drainage was used. A flow sensor unit consisting of electromagnetic sensors was used to measure arterial and venous flow rates, and a built-in pressure sensor was used to measure the water level in the reservoir. A preliminary study of continuous cranking by a team of six people was conducted as a surprise drill. This system was then used at a perfusion seminar. At the seminar, 1-min hand-cranking drills were conducted by volunteers according to a prepared scenario. The data were calculated on site and trend graphs of individual performances were given to the participants as a handout. Preliminary studies showed that each person's performance was different. Results from 1-min drills showed that good performance was not related to the number of clinical cases experienced, years of practice, or experience in hand cranking. Hand cranking to maintain the target flow rate could be achieved without practice; however, manipulating the venous return clamp requires practice. While the necessity of performing hand cranking during perfusion due to pump failure is rare, we believe that it is beneficial for perfusionists and patients to include hand-cranking practice in periodic extracorporeal circulation crisis management drills because a drill allows perfusionists to mentally rehearse the procedures should such a crisis occur.     

Roles of Department of Clinical Laboratory in infection control

The Department of Clinical Laboratory plays an important role in the hospital and has much information about patients and pathogens. Laboratory data are essential to support clinical physicians who diagnose and treat patients. For nosocomial infections, laboratory-based surveillance is recognized as essential to confirm outbreaks. Therefore, the role of the Department of Clinical Laboratory is very important in infection control. In Tohoku University Hospital, we have an Infection Control Unit located in the Department of Clinical Laboratory. The core role of the Infection Control Unit is diagnosis, treatment and preventative healthcare associated with infections. The Infection Control Team (ICT) performs rounds in the hospital (The ICT members are ICN, ICD, a microbiological technologist and a dietician), consultations about clinical cases, infection control, and organize the regional infection control network, "Miyagi Infection Control Network". The ICT rounds are performed once a week in two wards, and two times a year for one ward. The consultations are an important role of the ICD, and concern clinical infection cases and infection control in our hospital and the other regional hospitals, and produce advice on appropriate clinical information. The regional network is important for the collection of information about the pathogens and the susceptibility of antimicrobial agents in the region. "Miyagi Infection Control Network" has held a forum 5 times a year from 1999, and 300-400 healthcare workers join the forum and discuss infection control.     

Radiation-induced reactive oxygen species formation prior to oxidative DNA damage in human peripheral T cells

Previously, we demonstrated that human peripheral T lymphocytes revealed early apoptotic changes (annexin V-positive) and late apoptotic changes (propidium iodide-positive), at 13 and 24 h, respectively, after irradiation of 5 Gy. Changes in mitochondrial membrane potential were observed at 10 h after irradiation of 5 Gy. Subsequently, mitochondrial cytochrome c-release was confirmed. In order to elucidate the mechanism which acts prior to the mitochondrial membrane potential changes, we examined in the previous study the radiation dose and the timing of oxidative DNA damage induced in human peripheral T lymphocytes following 10 MV X-ray irradiation. As a result, the production of 8-oxoguanine, i.e., the product of oxidative DNA damage, was clearly identified starting at 10, 6, and 3 h, after 2, 5, and 20 Gy of irradiation, respectively. Therefore, we examined in the present study reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation in T lymphocytes following 5 Gy of irradiation. Using a CCD camera system, we monitored fluorescence in T lymphocytes loaded with the succinimidyl ester of dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA), which is non-fluorescent until oxidized by ROS. We found that ROS formation occurred immediately after irradiation, continued for several hours, and resulted in oxidative DNA damage. Therefore, the origin of hyper-radiosensitivity of T lymphocytes seemed to be the high production of ROS in the mitochondrial DNA following irradiation.