Lewis Blood Group-Related Antigen Expression in Normal Gastric Epithelium, Intestinal Metaplasia, Gastric Adenoma, and Gastric Carcinoma

The expression of blood group-related antigens of the Lewis system in normal gastric mucosa, intestinal metaplasia, gastric adenoma, and gastric carcinoma was examined. Ninety-five percent of normal foveolar epithelial samples stained positive for Lewis^b antigen, whereas only 10.0% expressed Lewis^a antigen. In contrast, intestinal metaplasia specimens had increased Lewis^a antigen expression and slightly decreased Lewis^b antigen expression. A similar pattern of Lewis^a and Lewis^b expression was observed in gastric adenomas and intestinal type adenocarcinomas. Lewis^x and Lewis^y were detected in all normal deep glands, but were not expressed in the majority of intestinal metaplasia specimens. In addition, only 20–40% of gastric adenomas and gastric carcinomas expressed Lewis^x and Lewis^y antigens. These changes in Lewis antigen expression in intestinal metaplasia, adenomas, and intestinal type adenocarcinomas suggest that altered expression of Lewis blood group-related antigens may correlate with cell transformation processes.     

Relative signal intensity on time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography as a novel indicator of aggressive presentation of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas

Asymptomatic dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) with cortical venous reflux (CVR) are now more commonly encountered. However, patients with an incidental onset may have a less aggressive clinical course. It is desirable to explore methods and indicators to predict the clinical outcomes. This study investigates whether the relative signal intensity (rSI) of the draining vessels on the time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography is related to clinical behavior in patients with intracranial DAVFs. We retrospectively reviewed 36 intracranial DAVFs. The patients were categorized as those with either aggressive-presentation or non-aggressive-presentation (n = 16 and 20, respectively). The rSIs of the shunt points, affected sinuses, and veins with CVR were compared between the two groups. The two groups were not significantly different in terms of rSIs of the shunt points and affected sinuses (p = 0.37 and 0.41, respectively). However, a significant positive correlation was observed in the rSI of the veins with CVR between the aggressive and non-aggressive behavior groups (p < 0.0001). The rSI of the veins with CVR could serve as a reliable indicator of aggressive behavior in intracranial DAVFs, and its optimal cutoff value was 1.63 with high sensitivity and specificity for predicting aggressive behavior (area under the curve, 0.909).     

Characteristics of gram-negative bacteremia during febrile neutropenia among allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients on levofloxacin prophylaxis

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases - The aim of this study is to clarify the characteristics of gram-negative bacteremia (GNB), including extended-spectrum...     

High-grade neuroepithelial tumor with BCL6 corepressor-alteration presenting pathological and radiological calcification: A case report

A 5-year-old girl presented with headache and vomiting. Head computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a right frontal lobe tumor with marked calcification. The patient underwent resection surgery with suspicion of anaplastic ependymoma, and the tumor was gross totally removed. Pathological examination revealed areas of dense tumor cells with a high nucleocytoplasmic ratio and myxoid areas consisting of tumor cells with a round-shaped nucleus and eosinophilic cytoplasm. Perivascular pseudorosette, necrosis, circumscribed growth, and microcalcification were also observed. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated negative staining for glial fibrillary protein and epithelial membrane antigen. Diagnosis of a high-grade neuroepithelial tumor (HGNET) with BCL6 corepressor (BCOR) alteration was made based on pathological findings and internal tandem duplication in the exon 15 of BCOR. Although calcification on radiological and pathological examination is not typical, it would be essential to recognize that calcification could appear in HGNET-BCOR.     

Development of 18 novel polymorphic microsatellite markers for the mysid crustacean Mesopodopsis orientalis

Conservation Genetics Resources - We have developed microsatellite DNA markers for Mesopodopsis orientalis (Tattersall 1908), a widely distributed mysid crustacean in shallow waters of the coastal...