Membranous nephropathy associated with thyroid-peroxidase antigen

A 6-year-old previously healthy Japanese girl was found to have dipstick 2+ proteinuria and a goiter based on the results of a routine school medical examination. Her serum free-thyroxine level was 4.98 ng/dL (normal range 0.95–1.74 ng/dL), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was less than 0.003 μU/mL (0.34–3.88 μU/mL), anti-microsomal (anti-thyroid-peroxidase) antibody was 1600 T (up to 100), anti-thyroglobulin antibody was 400 T (up to 100), and TSH-receptor antibody was 84% (up to ±10%). These results are consistent with a diagnosis of Graves’ disease. Electron microscopy examination of a renal biopsy specimen revealed electron-dense deposits located in the subepithelial spaces, and immunofluorescence microscopy examination demonstrated bright granular stainings of immunoglobulin G along the glomerular capillary walls. These findings are characteristic of membranous nephropathy. To investigate the relationship between the membranous nephropathy and Graves’ disease, we carried out a second immunofluorescence study, which revealed that the immunoglobulin G granular deposits corresponded to glomerular granular staining of thyroid-peroxidase, whereas staining for thyroglobulin was absent. It was therefore assumed that the deposition of immune complexes mediated by thyroid-peroxidase had caused the membranous nephropathy in this patient. This is the first report of membranous nephropathy associated with Graves’ disease in which deposits of thyroid-peroxidase, rather than thyroglobulin, have been confirmed in the kidney. This study was presented in the 14th congress of International Pediatric Nephrology Association (IPNA), Budapest, Hungary, 2007.     

Comparative assessment of the sealing ability of Nd:YAG laser versus a new desensitizing agent in human dentinal tubules: a pilot study

Dentinal hypersensitivity is a painful condition that occurs following periodontal treatment. Many treatment alternatives have been considered for this problem, including treatments with laser and dentinal adhesives. This study compared the sealing ability of Nd:YAG laser versus a new resin in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs. Ten human premolars were sectioned yielding 30 specimens of each premolar, which were randomly divided into three groups. The laser group was irradiated by Nd:YAG laser (1 W, 10 Hz, 60 s), the resin group was treated with the new Seal & Protect resin according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and the third group served as the control group and did not receive any interventions. After preparation and gold coating of the samples, they were photographed by SEM at two magnifications (1500× and 4000×). The number and diameter (μm) of the dentinal tubules were recorded in selected fields, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey tests were used to determine significant differences between groups. The ANOVA results revealed significant differences in both the mean number (P < 0.001) and diameter (P < 0.05) among the three groups. Further statistical analysis showed a significant difference between the laser group and the resin group in both outcome measures (P < 0.05). Thus, both Nd:YAG laser and the new resin reduced the number and diameter of open dentinal tubules, a result that also explains the desensitization mechanism of these interventions. We further conclude that application of the new resin is more effective than Nd:YAG laser in minimizing the number and diameter of exposed dentinal tubules.     

Cybersecurity for Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices: What Should You Know?

Medical devices have been targets of hacking for over a decade, and this cybersecurity issue has affected many types of medical devices. Lately, the potential for hacking of cardiac devices (pacemakers and defibrillators) claimed the attention of the media, patients, and health care providers. This is a burgeoning problem that our newly electronically connected world faces. In this paper from the Electrophysiology Section Council, we briefly discuss various aspects of this relatively new threat in light of recent incidents involving the potential for hacking of cardiac devices. We explore the possible risks for the patients and the effect of device reconfiguration in an attempt to thwart cybersecurity threats. We provide an outline of what can be done to improve cybersecurity from the standpoint of the manufacturer, government, professional societies, physician, and patient.     

Contribution of itch-associated scratch behavior to the development of skin lesions in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dermatophagoides farinae</Emphasis>-induced dermatitis model in NC/Nga mice

Recently, we have reported that the pathophysiological features of dermatitis induced by the repeated application with Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) extract ointment in NC/Nga mice were similar to those observed in the patients with atopic dermatitis. In the present study, we first examined whether the application of Df in other mouse strains could induce dermatitis. The repeated application of Df body (Dfb) ointment to the barrier-disrupted back of ICR, C57BL/6, and Balb/c mice did not cause any apparent skin lesions, although transient increase in serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels during antigen application was observed. On the other hand, in NC/Nga mice, dermatitis scores and serum IgE levels increased remarkably, and then these changes sustained for at least 10 days after stopping of antigen elicitation. Using NC/Nga mice, we investigated the contribution of scratching behavior to the development and maintenance of Dfb-induced dermatitis. In correlation with the increase in scratching behavior, erythema, hemorrhage, edema, scarring, erosion and excoriation were observed. Cutting off the hind toenails of mice exhibiting chronic skin lesions dramatically alleviated the dermatitis. From these findings, the onset of skin lesions and its chronically sustained course in Dfb-induced dermatitis in NC/Nga mice were closely associated with increased scratching behavior.     

Parkin基因启动子区-258T/G多态性与广西地区散发性帕金森病的相关性分析

Objective To investigate the association between the-258T/G polymorphism.in the pro-moter of parkin gene and the risk for sporadic parkinson's disease (SPD) in Guangxi Province, and in relationto the age of onset, of PD patients. Methods PCR-RFLP and sequence analysis were used to determine thegenotype of-258T/G polymorphism between all patients and healthy controls. Results The G allele was morecommon in patients than controls (55.20%:43.33% ,x2=6.898, P<0.05, OR=1.61, 95% CI: 1.13 ～2.30). The frequency of GG genotype was higher in patients than in controls (28.00 %: 18.33%, x2=7.159, P<0.05, OR=2.75, 95% CI : 1.31 ～ 5.77). The frequency of TG + GG genotype was higher in pa-tients than in controls (82.40%:68.33%, x2=6.551, P<0.05, OR=2.17.95%CI: 1.20 ～3.93). Afterbeing stratified by onset age, the frequencies of the G allele and GG genotype were significantly higher in pa-tients with onset age over 50 years than those in controls respectively. On the other hand, the frequency was notsignificantly different between the younger onset PD patients and the controls. Conclusion The parkin promot-er-258T/G polymorphism might be a risk factor for PD in Guangxi Province, and the G allele was increasedwith increasing age.     

Association of genetic variation of the RIL gene,encoding a PDZ-LIM domain protein and localized in 5q31.1, with low bone mineral density in adult Japanese women

Twin and family studies had shown that genetic factors are important determinants of bone mass. Multiple genes might be involved. One candidate gene, the reversion-induced LIM gene (RIL), is a PDZ and LIM-domain-containing protein and has been localized within the cytokine cluster of chromosome 5 (5q31.1). In a genetic study of 370 adult Japanese women, we investigated the correlation between radial bone mineral density (BMD) and a genetic variation (−3333T→C) of the 5'-flanking region of RIL gene. A significant association was identified between the RIL variation −3333T→C and radial BMD (r=0.15, P=0.003). The variation of the RIL locus may be an important determinant of osteoporosis.     

Parkin基因启动子区-258T/G多态性与广西地区散发性帕金森病的相关性分析

Objective To investigate the association between the-258T/G polymorphism.in the pro-moter of parkin gene and the risk for sporadic parkinson's disease (SPD) in Guangxi Province, and in relationto the age of onset, of PD patients. Methods PCR-RFLP and sequence analysis were used to determine thegenotype of-258T/G polymorphism between all patients and healthy controls. Results The G allele was morecommon in patients than controls (55.20%:43.33% ,x2=6.898, P<0.05, OR=1.61, 95% CI: 1.13 ～2.30). The frequency of GG genotype was higher in patients than in controls (28.00 %: 18.33%, x2=7.159, P<0.05, OR=2.75, 95% CI : 1.31 ～ 5.77). The frequency of TG + GG genotype was higher in pa-tients than in controls (82.40%:68.33%, x2=6.551, P<0.05, OR=2.17.95%CI: 1.20 ～3.93). Afterbeing stratified by onset age, the frequencies of the G allele and GG genotype were significantly higher in pa-tients with onset age over 50 years than those in controls respectively. On the other hand, the frequency was notsignificantly different between the younger onset PD patients and the controls. Conclusion The parkin promot-er-258T/G polymorphism might be a risk factor for PD in Guangxi Province, and the G allele was increasedwith increasing age.