Host specificity and in vivo infectivities of the mouse coccidian parasites Eimeria krijgsmanni

In the present study, infection experiments of E. krijgsmanni using various hosts were conducted to elucidate the host specificity among some animals and the infectivity to mouse strains. According to the results, the infection was not found in most animals, except for rats, in which some oocyst shedding was detected, and there was no significant difference in infectivity among mouse strains. Additionally, oocyst shedding was hardly detectable in a secondary infection to immunocompetent mice, although it was found in immunodeficient mice. These results indicated that only immunocompetent mice could develop adaptive immunity against reinfection by stimuli of the primary infection. Furthermore, the infection experiments were performed with splenic macrophage (Mφ)-depleted mice with a reagent and Beige (Bg) mice known to be a strain of mice with low NK cell activity. No significant effect was found in primary or secondary infections in the Mφ-depleted mice, whereas the mortality rate was clearly increased in Bg mice inoculated with a large number of oocysts. Their oocyst shedding was similar to that of immunocompetent hosts. Taken together, these results suggested that Mφ has only a minor role in the immune response, but the NK cell has an important function in resistance to primary infection of E. krijgsmanni.     

Salvage atherectomy: Using retrieved tissue to determine the etiology of acute closure

Directional coronary atherectomy was successfully performed in the mid-left anterior descending artery at the site of failed balloon angioplasty. We presumed that intracoronary thrombus had resulted in acute vessel closure following balloon angioplasty, due to the angiographic appearance of the lesion and the clinical situation. However, examination of the extracted specimen from the atherectomy device revealed predominantly atheromatous tissue with minimal thrombus. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Incidence of Mumps Deafness in Japan, 2005–2017: Analysis of Japanese Insurance Claims Database

BackgroundMumps deafness causes serious problems, and incidence data are needed to identify its disease burden. However, such data are limited, and the reported incidence is highly variable. Nationwide studies in Japan with a large age range are lacking.MethodsThis was a retrospective observational investigation of the 2005–2017 mumps burden using employment-based health insurance claims data. Data were analyzed for 5,190,326 people aged 0–64 years to estimate the incidence of mumps deafness.ResultsOf 68,112 patients with mumps (36,423 males; 31,689 females), 102 (48 males; 54 females) developed mumps deafness—an incidence of 15.0 per 10,000 patients (1 in 668 patients). Fifty-four (52.9%) patients had mumps deafness in childhood (0–15 years), and 48 (47.1%) had mumps deafness in adolescence and adulthood (16–64 years); most cases occurred in childhood, the peak period for mumps onset. The incidence of mumps deafness per 10,000 patients was 73.6 in adolescence and adulthood, 8.4 times higher than the incidence of 8.8 in childhood (P < 0.001). In childhood, the incidence of mumps deafness was 7.2 times higher among 6–15-year-olds (13.8; 95% CI, 10.2–18.2) than among 0–5-year-olds (1.9; 95% CI, 0.6–4.5), and this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). No sex difference was observed.ConclusionsThe incidence of mumps deafness per 10,000 patients aged 0–64 years was 15.0 (1 in 668 patients). A secondary risk of deafness following mumps virus infection was identified not only for children, but also for adolescents and adults.Key words: mumps deafness, congenital deafness, unilateral neurosensory deafness, mumps vaccine     

Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of pirfenidone in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal disorder without an effective therapy to date. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 107 patients were prospectively evaluated for efficacy of a novel compound, pirfenidone. The difference in the change in the lowest oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry (SpO2) during a 6-minute exercise test, the primary endpoint, from baseline to 6 months was not significant between the two groups (p = 0.0722). In a prespecified subset of patients who maintained a SpO2 greater than 80% during a 6-minute exercise test at baseline, the lowest SpO2 improved during a 6-minute exercise test in the pirfenidone group at 6 and 9 months (p = 0.0069 and 0.0305, respectively). Positive treatment effect was demonstrated in secondary endpoints: (1) change in VC measurements at 9 months (p = 0.0366) and (2) episodes of acute exacerbation of IPF occurring exclusively in the placebo group during the 9 months (p = 0.0031). Significant adverse events were associated with pirfenidone; however, adherence to treatment regimen was similar between pirfenidone and placebo groups. In conclusion, treatment with pirfenidone improved VC and prevented acute exacerbation of IPF during the 9 months of follow-up. Future long-term studies are needed to clarify the overall safety and efficacy of pirfenidone in IPF.