The utility of alizarin red s staining in calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease

OBJECTIVE: To determine the most suitable staining method for preservation and detection of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystals in histological sections of patients with CPPD crystal deposition disease. METHODS: Paraffin sections of CPPD crystal-bearing tissues of 31 patients were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Alizarin red S (ARS). For H&E, the sections were treated with Mayer's hematoxylin (pH 2.3) for 5 min and with eosin alcohol (pH 4.1) for 1 min. For ARS, 1% ARS dissolved in distilled water was adjusted to pH 6.4 by adding 0.1% ammonia solution drop by drop while stirring. As controls, unstained sections were soaked in 1% citric acid monohydrate solution (CAMS, pH 2.3) for 5 or 10 min. The histological preparations were examined under a compensated polarized light using a first-order red compensator. We counted the number of weakly positive birefringent CPPD crystals in 3 high power fields (HPF, 0.272 mm2). RESULTS: CPPD crystals were seen clearly in most specimens stained with ARS, but were markedly reduced in tissue sections stained with H&E or CAMS. The number of CPPD crystals detected in sections stained by ARS (1723 +/- 683 per 3 HPF, mean +/- standard deviation) was significantly higher compared with H&E, CAMS (5 min), and CAMS (10 min) (401 +/- 374, 1022 +/- 616, and 494 +/- 636 per 3 HPF, respectively; p < 0.001, each). CONCLUSION: Standard H&E staining reduces the number of visible CPPD crystals, probably due to the strong acidity of both hematoxylin and eosin solutions, whereas the ARS stain seems to preserve a large number of CPPD crystals. The utility of ARS staining may improve the identification of CPPD crystals and contribute to a correct diagnosis of CPPD crystal deposition.     

A case of thoracic esophageal cancer with an unusual type of duplicated inferior vena cava

We describe here a thoracic esophageal cancer with an unusual type of duplicated inferior vena cava. A 58-year-old man was referred to our hospital because a tumor in his lower esophagus had been identified by endoscopy and radiology. Computed tomography scans showed an unusual type of duplicated inferior vena cava characterized by both common iliac veins flowing back into the left-sided inferior vena cava, which drained into the azygos vein, whereas the right-sided one had no drainage. Esophagectomy was performed 3 weeks later after preoperative chemotherapy. Because the patient could have developed thrombosis of the left-sided inferior vena cava and severe hypotension caused by decreased venous return to the heart if the azygos vein had been severed, the azygos vein was preserved. Thus, when performing surgery for thoracic esophageal cancer, the surgeon should check for a duplicated inferior vena cava and preserve the azygos vein if necessary.     

Rapid Identification and Subtyping of Helicobacter cinaedi Strains by Intact-Cell Mass Spectrometry Profiling with the Use of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry

Helicobacter cinaedi infection is recognized as an increasingly important emerging disease in humans. Although H. cinaedi-like strains have been isolated from a variety of animals, it is difficult to identify particular isolates due to their unusual phenotypic profiles and the limited number of biochemical tests for detecting helicobacters. Moreover, analyses of the 16S rRNA gene sequences are also limited due to the high levels of similarity among closely related helicobacters. This study was conducted to evaluate intact-cell mass spectrometry (ICMS) profiling using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) as a tool for the identification of H. cinaedi. A total of 68 strains of H. cinaedi isolated from humans, dogs, a cat, and hamsters were examined in addition to other Helicobacter species. The major ICMS profiles of H. cinaedi were identical and differed from those of Helicobacter bilis, which show >98% sequence similarity at the 16S rRNA sequence level. A phyloproteomic analysis of the H. cinaedi strains examined in this work revealed that human isolates formed a single cluster that was distinct from that of the animal isolates, with the exception of two strains from dogs. These phyloproteomic results agreed with those of the phylogenetic analysis based on the nucleotide sequences of the hsp60 gene. Because they formed a distinct cluster in both analyses, our data suggest that animal strains may not be a major source of infection in humans. In conclusion, the ICMS profiles obtained using a MALDI-TOF MS approach may be useful for the identification and subtyping of H. cinaedi.     

Infection-immunity liaison: Pathogen-driven autoimmune-mimicry (PDAIM)

Autoimmunity causes pathological conditions resulting in autoimmune diseases (ADs). Although autoimmunity is a mystery, immunological dogma suggests that autoreactive cell reactivation (ACR) breaks self-tolerance and induces autoimmunity. Thus, ACR is a royal pathway for ADs. Cumulative evidence implicates environmental factors as secondary triggers of ADs in the genetically susceptible hosts. Infection is the most likely trigger. Although several mechanisms have been proposed to explain how infectious agents trigger ADs, ACR is assumed to be an essential pathway.     

Clinical features of idiopathic esophageal perforation compared with typical post-emetic type: a newly proposed subtype in Boerhaave’s syndrome

Esophagus - n our previous nationwide survey report on esophageal perforation, we proposed the existence of cases with idiopathic esophageal perforation at a certain rate. To elucidate the clinical...     

Efficacy and safety of ixekizumab treatment for Japanese patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis,erythrodermic psoriasis and generalized pustular psoriasis: Results from a 52‐week,open‐label,phase 3 study (UNCOVER‐J)

Psoriasis, a chronic, immune‐mediated skin disease characterized by red, scaly plaques, affects approximately 0.3% of the population in Japan. The aim of this open‐label study was to evaluate the long‐term efficacy and safety of ixekizumab, a humanized, anti‐interleukin‐17A monoclonal antibody, in Japanese patients with plaque psoriasis (n = 78, including 11 psoriatic arthritis), erythrodermic psoriasis (n = 8) and generalized pustular psoriasis (n = 5). Ixekizumab was administrated s.c. at baseline (week 0, 160 mg), from weeks 2 to 12 (80 mg every 2 weeks), and from weeks 16 to 52 (80 mg every 4 weeks). At week 52, 92.3% of patients with plaque psoriasis achieved Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75, 80.8% achieved PASI 90, 48.7% achieved PASI 100, and 52.6% had remission of plaques (by static Physician Global Assessment, sPGA [0]). Difficult to treat areas of psoriasis (nail or scalp) also responded to ixekizumab. All patients with psoriatic arthritis who were assessed (5/5) achieved an American College of Rheumatology 20 response. Most patients with erythrodermic psoriasis or generalized pustular psoriasis responded to ixekizumab and the clinical outcome was maintained over 52 weeks (75% and 60% of patients achieved sPGA [0, 1] at week 52, respectively). Mostly mild or moderate treatment‐emergent adverse events were reported by 79 of 91 patients; the most common were nasopharyngitis, eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, urticaria and injection site reactions. In conclusion, 52‐week ixekizumab treatment was efficacious and well tolerated in Japanese patients with plaque psoriasis. Efficacy was also observed in patients with erythrodermic psoriasis, generalized pustular psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.     

Problems during and after pregnancy of former biliary atresia patients treated successfully by the Kasai procedure

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the problems and the quality of life during and after pregnancy of the patients who had undergone Kasai operation and to find out a strategy for follow-up during the period of their pregnancy. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 134 institutions of the Japanese Biliary Atresia Society with the following questions: (1) Do you have any pregnancy cases in patients who had undergone Kasai operation? (2) Did she have any menstrual problem? (3) Did she have any problem during pregnancy and delivery? (4) Did she have any change in liver function tests after delivery? (5) Did she have any early and long-term problem after delivery? (6) Did the baby have any problem? (7) Was there any special care or comment about the pregnancy of the biliary atresia patients? The responses were analyzed. RESULTS: Fourteen institutions reported 16 cases of pregnancy, 23 cases of delivery, and 2 cases of abortion. The causes of abortion in the 2 cases were attributed to hemorrhagic shock after massive bleeding from esophageal varices and serious atopic dermatitis, respectively. Other problems during pregnancy were abruption of placenta, fetal distress leading to caesarian section, and development of liver dysfunction leading liver transplantation. Problems after delivery included deterioration of liver function in 6 patients (37.5%), attacks of ascending cholangitis in 4 patients (25.0%), and severe fatigue with liver dysfunction from nursing the baby leading to liver transplantation. Only 3 of 16 (18.8%) patients were free of any problems. No abnormality was seen in the babies. CONCLUSIONS: Even if the patients with biliary atresia lead a good postoperative course, unexpected complications can occur when they become pregnant. Close long-term follow-up is required for proper management of pregnancy in biliary atresia patients.