Involvement of DNase II-like acid DNase in the cataract formation of the UPL rat and the Shumiya cataract rat

The loss of organelles and DNA is important to ensure transparency of the lenses, and DNase II-like acid DNase (also called DNase IIbeta, DLAD) is related to the loss of organelles and DNA in the lenses. We investigated the relation between the degradation of DNA and DLAD mRNA expression in the lenses of two hereditary cataract rats, the UPL rat (UPLR) and the Shumiya cataract rat (SCR), during cataract development. Undigested DNA was detected in the lens cortexes of normal UPLRs and SCRs, and undigested DNA was degraded in the lens nuclei of normal UPLRs and SCRs. DLAD does not affect common cataract formation, since DLAD mRNA expression levels in the lenses of cataractous SCRs were not changed with an increase in age, and undigested DNA was degraded in the lens nuclei of cataractous SCRs. On the other hand, an accumulation of undigested DNA was found in the lens nuclei of cataractous UPLRs at 46 and 53 d of age with opaque lenses, and the decrease in DLAD mRNA expression levels occurred prior to the accumulation of undigested DNA in the lens nuclei. It is possible that UPLRs are a good model for cataract caused by a decrease of DNA degradation in the lenses.     

Acute promyelocytic leukemia: an unusual cause showing prolonged disseminated intravascular coagulation after placental abruption

Background Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) caused by placental abruption usually improves rapidly after prompt delivery and adequate anti-DIC treatment. Case A 30-year-old nulliparous woman suffered from placental abruption at the 25th week of pregnancy, and emergent cesarean section was done immediately. She exhibited DIC, which continued even after termination of the pregnancy and anti-DIC treatment. She also showed neutropenia. We closely observed her, and at the 58th day postpartum, blast cells appeared in the peripheral blood and she was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Induction chemotherapy was done successfully. The close observation after delivery enabled us to make the prompt diagnosis/treatment, leading to the complete remission. Conclusion APL should be added to the list of differential diagnosis when DIC persists even after prompt delivery and appropriate anti-DIC treatment after placental abruption.     

Chemotherapy for high-risk early-stage endometrial cancer

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To discuss the usefulness of chemotherapy in high-risk early-stage endometrial cancer and the best chemotherapy regimen. RECENT FINDINGS: External radiation therapy has been successfully used to prevent local recurrence; however, it does not improve the overall survival and it increases the incidence of late toxicity. A recent randomized study revealed that adjuvant platinum-based combination chemotherapy might be a suitable alternative to radiotherapy for high-risk early-stage endometrial cancer. The optimal regimen is still in question because combinations of doxorubicin-cisplatin and paclitaxel-doxorubicin-cisplatin cause significant toxicity. The combination of paclitaxel-carboplatin may be better than doxorubicin-cisplatin with regard to toxicities. SUMMARY: Radiation treatment following surgery has been the standard adjuvant therapy for endometrial cancer for a long time. Radiotherapy decreases the local recurrence rates; however, a significant impact on the overall survival has not been demonstrated. The usefulness of adjuvant chemotherapy has been demonstrated by only a little evidence. Nonetheless, we are encouraged by a recent randomized study. In light of the excellent outcomes associated with early-stage endometrial cancer, it is important to conduct another large randomized trial based on standardization of high-risk criteria to evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy.     

Quantitative Evaluations of Posterior Staphylomas in Highly Myopic Eyes by Ultra-Widefield Optical Coherence Tomography

PurposeTo determine the shape of posterior staphylomas using ultra-widefield optical coherence tomographic (UWF-OCT) images and to identify the factors contributing to the shape and grade of the staphylomas in eyes with pathologic myopia.MethodsThis was an observational case series study. Highly myopic patients who were ≥40 years old with wide or narrow type of macular staphylomas were studied. High myopia was defined as a myopic refractive error (spherical equivalent) greater than −8.0 diopters (D) or an axial length (AL) > 26.5 mm. The maximum diameter and depth of the staphylomas were measured in the 12 radial scans of UWF-OCT images by ImageJ software and were compared between the two types of staphylomas.ResultsWe studied 197 eyes of 138 patients with a mean age of 64.7 ± 10.4 years and mean AL of 30.0 ± 1.9 mm. The AL was significantly longer in the eyes with the narrow type than the wide type of staphyloma (P = 0.036). Multiple regression analyses showed that age was significantly correlated with the maximum depth/maximum diameter ratio (wide type, P < 0.001; narrow type, P = 0.003) of both types of staphylomas. The AL was significantly correlated with the depth/diameter ratio of only the narrow type of staphylomas (P = 0.005).ConclusionsThe significant correlations of age and AL with the wide and narrow types of posterior staphylomas indicate that the factors for their formations may be distinctly different. Quantitative analyses of UWF-OCT images are helpful in determining the shape of the staphylomas.     

Dietary Patterns of 479 Indonesian Adults and Their Associations with Sodium and Potassium Intakes Estimated by Two 24-h Urine Collections

The excess sodium (Na) intake and insufficient potassium (K) intake are frequently observed all over the world, including Indonesia. This study explored the dietary patterns of Indonesian people and evaluated their associations with Na and K intakes. Na and K intakes were assessed by repeated 24-h urine collection. The dietary patterns of the previous month were extracted by factor analysis using the Indonesian Food Frequency Questionnaire. The participants were community-dwelling Indonesian men and women (n = 479) aged 20 years and over. We identified four dietary patterns in each sex. After controlling for confounding factors, the high quantile of ‘Noodle, oil, and salty sea products’ pattern was associated with the high Na intake in both men and women (p = 0.02 and <0.001, respectively). The ‘Meat, vegetable, oil, and fruit’ pattern statistically significantly contributed to the high K intake in men (p = 0.04), but not in women (p = 0.26). The ‘Vegetable, non-oil, and milk’ pattern in men and ‘Meat, vegetable, and fruit’ pattern in women were associated with low Na:K ratios (p = 0.03 and 0.01, respectively). Neither ‘bread’ nor ‘fish’ appeared as a major determinant of any dietary patterns in this population. The ‘Noodle, oil, and salty sea products’ pattern should be avoided to reduce sodium intake.     

Secondary arteriovenous malformation due to subclavian vein occlusion

An 80-year-old man underwent rectal resection and insertion of a central venous catheter through the left subclavian vein 16 years earlier. Following surgery, he developed edema of his left upper limb that became exacerbated and infected. Computed tomography showed occlusion of the subclavian vein and multiple arteriovenous shunts from the branches of the axillary artery to the venous sac of the axillary vein. Angiography confirmed numerous shunts between the branches of the axillary artery and vein and dilated collateral veins. Embolization of the venous sac was performed using coils, alcohol, and glue. Postprocedural angiography showed complete eradication of the nidus.     

Sentinel Lymph Node Detection in Breast Cancer Patients by Real‐Time Virtual Sonography Constructed With Three‐Dimensional Computed Tomography‐Lymphography

Abstract: Ultrasonography (US) is one tool for preoperative diagnosis of lymph node metastases in breast cancer. However, US cannot detect true sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs). We identified SLNs in 60 clinically node‐negative breast cancer patients using a real‐time virtual sonography (RVS) system to display in real time a virtual multi‐planar reconstruction obtained from computed tomography (CT) volume data corresponding to the same cross‐sectional image from US. CT volume data were obtained from our original three‐dimensional CT lymphography (3DCT‐LG), which accurately detects SLNs in breast cancer. SLN metastases were assessed by shape and visibility of the hilum. All patients underwent SLN biopsy and SLN metastases were examined pathologically. In all 60 patients, we were able to detect the same SLNs visualized by 3DCT‐LG. Suspicious SLN metastases were identified in seven of the 60 patients, and four of seven patients were pathologically positive. Positive predictive value was 57%. The remaining 53 patients displayed non‐suspect SLNs in which absence of metastasis from the SLN was confirmed histologically. Overall accuracy was 95%. This is a first attempt at preoperatively identifying SLNs using US guided by the RVS system in breast cancer patients. Although evaluation of SLN metastases was unsatisfactory, this method may be useful for preoperative fine‐needle aspiration cytology for diagnosis of SLN metastases.     

Successful treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia in a patient on hemodialysis

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has the best prognosis among acute leukemias, but there is little data about APL in patients on hemodialysis. A 64-year-old hemodialysis patient was successfully treated for APL by induction therapy with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), three courses of consolidation therapy with Ara-C, mitomycin?C (MIT), daunorubicin (DNR), and idarubicin (IDR), and maintenance therapy with ATRA. Complete remission has been maintained for 42?months in this patient. With dose modification, ATRA and chemotherapy may be safely given to patients on hemodialysis.