Clinical feature and anti-phospholipid antibody profiles of pregnancy failure in young women with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome treated with conventional therapy

Objective: To elucidate clinical feature and anti-phospholipid antibody (aPL) profiles, including lupus anticoagulant (LA), anti-cardiolipin (CL) antibodies and anti-phosphatidylserine/prothrombin (PS/PT) antibodies, of pregnancy failure in patients with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) already treated with conventional therapy.

Materials and methods: Thirty-four women with a history of pregnancy who were diagnosed with APS between 2008 and 2016 were included in the study. We defined the successful pregnancy group as women who gave birth to a healthy baby over 1500?g after 34 weeks of pregnancy under conventional treatment (heparin and/or low-dose aspirin). The unsuccessful pregnancy group was defined as women whose pregnancy outcomes did not meet the aforementioned criteria despite the conventional therapy. The clinical features and aPL profiles were compared between the two groups.

Results: Fifteen women were classified into the unsuccessful pregnancy group; seven women were in the successful pregnancy group. Having history of both thrombosis and pregnancy morbidity and LA positivity were significantly more prevalent in the unsuccessful pregnancy group than in the successful pregnancy group (p?<.05, respectively). In contrast, single positivity of anti-CL antibody was negatively associated with APS-associated pregnancy morbidity under the conventional treatment (p?<.01). The proportion of anti-PS/PT IgG-positive patients was significantly higher in the unsuccessful pregnancy group (p?=?.02, OR 18.7, 95% CI 1.50, 232.29) with high concordance rate with LA (97% consistence).

Conclusion: History of both thrombosis and pregnancy morbidity and the positivity of LA and/or anti-PS/PT-IgG, not but anti-CL-antibodies were correlated with APS-associated pregnancy morbidity refractory to conventional treatment. Clinical feature and aPL profiles might help us to make risk assessment for adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with APS.     

Antitumor Activity and Pharmacokinetics of Estra-1,3,5 (10)-Triene-3,17{beta}-Diol, 3-Benzoate, 17-((4-(4-(Bis (2-Chioroethyl)Amino)Phenyl)-1-Oxobutoxy) Acetate) (Bestrabucil) in Human Tumor Xenografts Serially Transplanted into Nude Mice

Bestrabucil (KM2210), the benzoate of an estradiol-chlorambucilconjugate, was used experimental cancer chemotherapy against13 human tumor xenografts serially transplanted into nude mice,and its pharmacokinetics was studied. The tumors were one esophageal,two gastric, six colon, one cholecystic and three breast carcinomas.Two tumor tissue fragments approximately 3x3x3 mm were inoculatedinto BALB/cA nude mice, which were then treated with KM2210at doses of 100, 200 and 300 mg/Kg/day orally starting 24 hrafter the transplantation or when the tumor reached a weightof 100–300 mg. The concentration of KM2210 and its derivativesin the tumor xenografts, normal muscular tissue and blood wereassayed by high performance liquid chroma-tography. Six out of 13 xenografts were found to be sensitive to KM2210.The concentrations of KM2210 and its derivatives in the tumortissues of the sensitive xenografts were five to 10 times higherthan those in blood and muscular tissue, and the antitumor activitycorrelated well with the area under the curve of active metabolitesof KM2210 in the tumor.     

Malignant lymphoma of the urethra: report of a case with detection of Epstein–Barr virus genome in the tumour cells

We report a primary non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma of the urethra in a 78-year-old female. Serum antibodies for Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) were negative, but there was a 40-fold increase in antibodies to EBV-associated nuclear antigen. Using PCR and in situ hybridization techniques, EBV genome was found in the tumour cell nuclei.     

Properties of perception of laterally moving objects in persons with profound retardation

ABSTRACT. Twenty-two persons with profound retardation were assessed for their perception of moving objects at a velocity of 5 s^-1. Abnormalities were not found in the ocular structures and optic discs of subjects upon ophthalmological examination. Stimuli consisted of six habituation trials and two test trials. Duration of eye movement in pursuit of stimulus was estimated by calculating the linearity and gradients of electro-oculograms. Subjects were divided into three groups based on the change of estimated time of pursuit eye movement. Those showing habituation as well as dishabituation (group 1) had higher developmental communicative ages than subjects with only habituation (group 2) and subjects who did not exhibit habituation (group 3). The results indicated a relationship between the perception of moving objects and the development of communication level in persons with profound retardation. The present study investigated abnormalities in the computer tomographic scanning of the subjects' heads and found cerebral disturbance of the visual cognition of moving objects in persons with profound retardation.     

Early onset of cecal perforation in neonatal,recto-sigmoid type Hirschsprung's disease

Hirschsprung's disease has been considered to cause intestinal perforation in rare cases. Even if a perforation occurs, the majority of cases are associated with the long-segment or total colonic type. Our case developed the perforation in the neonatal period in spite of being of the recto-sigmoidal type, and it affected the cecum. We do not have a good explanation for this condition. However, the pathological examination of the specimens of the perforated cecum revealed some necrosis (ulceration, subcutaneous hemorrhage, congestion and severe edema) which was considered to be caused by ischemia, secondary to a localized vascular accident in the wall of the distended intestine.     

Marked Reduction of Cerebral Vasospasm with Intrathecal Urokinase Infusion Therapy after Endovascular Coil Embolization of the Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Case Series

Delayed cerebral vasospasms after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) are a risk factor for poor prognosis after successful treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Different strategies to remove clots from the subarachnoid space and prevent vasospasms have different outcomes. Intrathecal urokinase infusion therapy combined with endovascular treatment (EVT) can reduce the incidence of symptomatic vasospasms. To analyze the relationship between symptomatic vasospasms and residual SAHs after urokinase infusion therapy, we retrospectively reviewed the records of 348 consecutive patients managed with EVT and intrathecal urokinase infusion therapy for aneurysmal SAH at our institution between 2010 and 2021. Among them, 163 patients met the study criteria and were classified into two groups according to the presence of residual SAH in the cisterns, Sylvian fissures, and frontal interhemispheric fissure. The incidence of symptomatic vasospasms and the clinical outcomes were assessed. In total, eight (5.0%) patients developed symptomatic vasospasms. Patients with symptomatic vasospasms had a significantly higher incidence of residual SAH in the Sylvian or frontal interhemispheric fissures than those without (P <.0001). No patient with SAHs resolved by urokinase infusion therapy developed symptomatic vasospasms. However, the two groups did not differ significantly in terms of modified Rankin scale scores at discharge. Treatment with intrathecal urokinase infusion after EVT for aneurysmal SAH can substantially reduce the risk of clinically evident vasospasms.     

Primary serous adenocarcinoma of the retroperitoneum with a response to platinum-based chemotherapy: a case report

A CAT-scan-guided biopsy of the retroperitoneal tumor of a 54-year-old female revealed a serous adenocarcinoma resembling a serous adenocarcinoma of ovarian origin. Partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy was observed. Exploratory laparotomies and an autopsy found no possible primary lesion for the tumor. Therefore, we concluded that this tumor is a primary serous adenocarcinoma of the retroperitoneum. Although further accumulation of cases is required, it appears that primary treatment for serous adenocarcinoma of the retroperitoneum is platinum-based chemotherapy if surgical removal is incomplete.