A case of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung in a 4-year-old child

A case of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) of the lung is reported. A 3-year-old boy was admitted for elevation of infiltrative shadow in the right lower lung field on a chest X-ray. The clinical diagnosis was emphysematous bullae with inflammation. After 6 months, he had recurrent infected bullae, and was admitted. He received chemotherapy with antibiotics prior to the operation. Right lower lobectomy was performed on February 2, 1998. The resected lung was composed of multiple cysts with thin wall measuring 10-60 mm in diameter. The histological examination of specimen revealed CCAM (Stocker type I), which is rare in this age. The patient has been well for 16 months postoperatively.     

Medical visits of childhood cancer survivors in Japan: A cross‐sectional survey

Background: Although more children with cancer continue to be cured, these survivors experience various late effects. Details of the medical visit behaviors of childhood cancer survivors (CCS) in adulthood remain to be elucidated. Methods: In order to examine medical visits in the past and future of CCS, we performed a cross‐sectional survey with self‐rating questionnaires on medical visits of CCS compared with control groups (their siblings and the general population). Results: Questionnaires were completed by 185 CCS, 72 of their siblings and 1000 subjects from the general population and the results were analyzed. Mean ages at this survey and the duration after therapy completions of CCS were 23 and 12 years, respectively. We found that the previous treatment hospitals (where CCS were treated for their cancer) were the most commonly visited medical facilities for the CCS group (74% for female patients and 64% for male patients) and more than half of the CCS preferred to continue visiting the previous treatment hospital with enough satisfaction in Japan. The multivariate analysis showed that female sex and relapse were significantly associated with the past visits to the previous treatment hospital and that the CCS with brain tumors or bone/soft tissue sarcomas and CCS with any late effects tended to continue the relationships with the hospital. In addition female sex was also significantly associated with desired future visits to the previous treatment hospital. On the other hand, the married CCS tended to be disinclined to visit the hospital it in the future. Conclusions: In order to optimize risk‐based care and promote health for CCS after adulthood, we should discuss the medical transition with CCS and their parents.     

Leiomyomas in uterine remnants associated with vaginal agenesis

A premenopausal woman with vaginal agenesis underwent surgery for leiomyomas in rudimentary uterine horns. Immunohistochemical study of surgical specimens revealed that progesterone receptors are distributed in the nuclei of a majority of the leiomyoma cells and in the nuclei of a minority of the myometrial cells. Estrogen receptors are not detected in the surgical specimens. Copyright Copyright 1999 S. Karger AG, Basel     

Formulas for fetal weight estimation by ultrasound measurements based on neonatal specific gravities and volumes

To improve the accuracy of fetal weight estimation by ultrasound measurement, especially in low birth weight infants, including those with intrauterine growth retardation, two new formulas were developed from a new point of view. The formulas were established by (1) actual measurements of the volumes of the neonatal head and trunk with limbs, (2) analysis of the relationship between the sizes of the parts of the fetal body measured by ultrasound examination before birth and the volumes of the parts of the neonatal body, and (3) calculation of the specific gravities of the parts of the neonatal body. The prospective study showed a high correlation between estimated weights and actual birth weights with a small range of error in infants weighing between 450 and 4800 gm.     

Adding collagen to adipose tissue transplant increases engraftment by promoting cell proliferation,neovascularisation and macrophage activity in a rat model

To clarify the effect of collagen addition to transplanted adipose tissue on angiogenesis, cell proliferation and tissue remodelling process and reveal whether collagen addition contributes to improving transplanted adipose tissue engraftment in rats. Adipose tissue was harvested from the inguinal and injected into the back of the rat, in addition to collagen. Engraftment tissue was harvested, semi‐quantitatively evaluated and underwent haematoxylin and eosin or Perilipin staining. Moreover, we evaluated viable adipocyte counts and neovascularisation. Macrophages were evaluated using flow cytometry, and the adiponectin or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA was detected using real‐time polymerase chain reaction. By collagen addition to transplanted adipose tissue, higher engraftment rate semi‐quantitatively and a greater number of new blood vessels histologically were identified. Perilipin staining revealed a higher adipocyte number. The total cell, M1 macrophage and M2 macrophage count were higher. There was increased adiponectin mRNA significantly at week 4 compared to that at week 1 after transplantation. Note that the expression levels of VEGF mRNA increased. In rats, adding collagen enhanced cell proliferation, induced M2 macrophages, which are involved in wound healing, and promoted adipocytes and neovascularisation. Therefore, collagen addition to transplanted adipose tissue could increase the engraftment rate of adipose tissue.     

Morphometric features of laminar pores in lamina cribrosa observed by scanning laser ophthalmoscopy

PURPOSE: To describe a method for making morphometric analysis of the pores in the lamina cribrosa with a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO). METHODS: Sixteen consecutive images were acquired with an SLO from the retinal surface to the bottom of the optic disc in +0.25-diopter increments. An He-Ne laser (633 nm) with a 20 degrees field of view was used. The images from each section were processed and combined with the aid of Macintosh software. RESULTS: Eyes with physiological cupping showed uniformly round or nearly round pores, whereas eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma frequently had compressed pores. CONCLUSIONS: In vivo morphometry of the surface of the internal lamina cribrosa can be performed by this technique, which should be useful for evaluating the progression of glaucomatous changes of the optic nerve head.     

Synthesis and photophysical properties of photostable 1,8-naphthalimide dyes incorporating benzotriazole-based UV absorbers

We developed a series of blue-emitting 1,8-naphthalimide dyes covalently attached to 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2H-benzotriazoles that retard photodegradation of the fluorophore. The dyes displayed weaker fluorescence emissions than the parent 1.8-naphthalimide. Quantum chemical calculations suggested that the decreased fluorescence was caused by the nonradiative deactivation promoted through the excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) in benzotriazole components. The dyes'' phosphorescences in a degassed solution at 77 K were more efficient than that of the parent 1.8-naphthalimide, indicating a possible deactivation pathway through intersystem crossing. PMMA films doped with these dyes showed higher resistance against photoaging than the film doped with an equimolar mixture of constituent 1.8-naphthalimide and the benzotriazole derivatives. Thus, the covalently linked benzotriazole units slow fluorophore degradation not only by preferential absorption of harmful UV light, which is found in the film with a simple mixture of two components, but also by the nonradiative deactivation involved in benzotriazole units.

Highly photostable blue fluorescence dyes were developed by hybridization of 1,8-naphthalimides with benzotriazole-based UV absorbers enabling a non-radiative energy dissipation process of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT).     

Acute and delayed psychiatric sequelae among patients hospitalised with COVID-19: a cohort study using LIFE study data

BackgroundCharacterising the psychiatric sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can inform the development of long-term treatment strategies. However, few studies have examined these sequelae at different time points after COVID-19 infection.AimsThe study aimed to investigate the incidences and risks of acute and delayed psychiatric sequelae in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in Japan.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study was conducted using a database comprising healthcare claims data from public health insurance enrollees residing in a Japanese city. We analysed a primary cohort comprising patients hospitalised with COVID-19 between March 2020 and July 2021 and two control cohorts comprising patients hospitalised with influenza or other respiratory tract infections (RTI) during the same period. We calculated the incidences of acute (1–3 months after infection) and delayed (4–6 months after infection) psychiatric sequelae. These sequelae were identified using diagnosis codes and categorised as mood/anxiety/psychotic disorder, mood disorder, anxiety disorder, psychotic disorder or insomnia. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) of psychiatric sequelae occurrence after COVID-19 infection compared with influenza and other RTI.ResultsThe study population with acute psychiatric sequela consisted of 662 patients with COVID-19, 644 patients with influenza, and 7369 patients with RTI who could be followed for 3 months; the study population with delayed psychiatric sequelae consisted of 371 patients with COVID-19, 546 patients with influenza, and 5397 patients with RTI who could be followed for 6 months. In the analysis of acute psychiatric sequelae, COVID-19 had significantly higher odds of mood/anxiety/psychotic disorder (OR: 1.39, p=0.026), psychotic disorder (OR: 2.13, p<0.001), and insomnia (OR: 2.59, p<0.001) than influenza, and significantly higher odds of insomnia (OR: 1.44, p=0.002) and significantly lower odds of anxiety disorder (OR: 0.56, p<0.001) than other RTI. In the analysis of delayed psychiatric sequelae, COVID-19 had significantly higher odds of psychotic disorder (OR: 2.25, p=0.007) than influenza, but significantly lower odds of anxiety disorder (OR: 0.55, p=0.011) than other RTI.ConclusionsCOVID-19 was generally associated with an increased risk of psychiatric sequelae occurring within 3 months after infection, but had a lower risk of new psychiatric sequelae developing 4–6 months after infection.