DSCG Reduces RSV‐induced illness in RSV‐infected mice

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the pathogens generally associated with the common cold, lower respiratory infection, and exacerbation of asthma. Disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) is a safe and widely used drug for the prevention of bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis attacks. The effect of DSCG on acute upper respiratory tract viral infections remains controversial. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of DSCG on parameters of RSV induced‐illness. Using a well‐characterized murine model of RSV infection, the effect of DSCG on RSV‐induced illness was evaluated by body weight, respiratory function, viral replication, level of IFN‐γ in lungs, serology, and histopathology. Mice treated with DSCG were protected against RSV‐induced weight loss. The baseline Penh in RSV‐infected mice treated with DSCG was less than that in mice treated with saline. In methacholine challenge, the increase in Penh in RSV‐infected mice treated with DSCG was suppressed to the same level as that in the mock‐infected group. Further, there were no differences in viral replication between the mice treated with DSCG and those treated with saline, and the level of inflammation observed in the lungs in RSV‐infected mice treated with DSCG was not as severe as that in mice treated with saline. These findings indicate that DSCG may be an effective agent for the prevention of RSV induced disease and the relief of symptoms of RSV infection. J. Med. Virol. 81:354–361, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Metal allergic reaction in chronic refractory in-stent restenosis

ObjectivesThis study examined the relationship between chronic refractory (CR) in-stent restenosis (ISR) and metal allergic reaction.BackgroundAlthough drug-eluting stent reduced the restenotic event compared with bare-metal stent, the mechanism of neointimal proliferation is not clear yet; however, bare-metal stent still remains as one of the choices.MethodsOf 128 bare-metal stent implanted patients who experienced target lesion revascularization at least once, 60 patients with the second ISR (study group) and 68 patients without the second ISR (control group) were compared in terms of result from the skin patch test for metal allergic reaction.ResultsNickel was dominant among components of 316L stainless steel. The nickel-positive was observed in 19% (24/128) of all patients. Of 24 nickel-positive, 18 (30%) was in the study group, whereas 6 (9%) was in the control group (P=.02). According to multivariate analysis, the most significant predictor for CR-ISR was reference vessel diameter (P=.0010) followed by nickel-positive (P=.0033) and hyperlipidemia (P=.0305). The nickel-positive showed the highest odds ratio of 5.41 adjusted with confounder variables.ConclusionThis study with the second ISR showed that nickel was a major factor for CR-ISR. Further improvement of biocompatible material is required for coronary stents and strut-coating materials even in the drug-eluting stent era.     

Granulocytic sarcoma of the prostate

A 71-year-old man with dysuria was referred to our hospital. The level of serum prostate specific antigen was slightly elevated (4.66 ng/ml), and digital rectal examination revealed a stony hard prostate mass. We performed a transrectal prostate biopsy because malignancy was suspected. Histological examination revealed leukemia-like cells, and bone-marrow examination (aspiration) was performed to determine the location of the original lesion. However, no leukemia-like cells or any other form of malignant cells were identified. Clinical imaging confirmed the absence of any other lesions, and granulocytic sarcoma of the prostate was subsequently diagnosed. We treated the cancer with radiotherapy at a dose of 40 Gy and dysuria improved. Furthermore, significant reduction in prostate volume was confirmed. Four months after initial presentation, the patient developed acute myeloid leukemia [M2 by French-American-British classification]. Induction chemotherapy was initiated, and the patient was successfully induced to complete remission. Twenty months later, the patient showed relapse. Despite salvage chemotherapy, he died of brain hemorrhage twenty-four months after complete remission.     

Management of quadruple valves for severe infective endocarditis; report of a case

A 74-year-old man had pustulant bilateral arthritis complicated with sepsis and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Microbiologic study of blood sample showed Streptococcus and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). He was complicated with postulant diskitis since then. Medical treatment for DIC and administration of antibiotics were performed. Preoperative echocardiography revealed massive aortic regurgitation and vegetation of aortic valve, moderate pulmonary regurgitation and vegetation of pulmonary valve, massive mitral regurgitation, massive tricuspid regurgitation. He was diagnosed as infective quadruple valve endocarditis. He received aortic valve replacement, pulmonary valve replacement, mitral valve repair and tricuspid valve repair. Postoperative echocardiography showed satisfactory function of bioprosthesis. Postoperative course was uneventful.     

A case of visceral larva migrans due to Toxocara canis showing varied manifestations

A 21-year-old woman admitted for a low-grade fever, dry cough, polyarthralgia, and general fatigue was found to have elevateal accustomed to eating raw meat and cattle liver peripheral blood eosinophil counts and serum IgE. Chest X-ray imaging and computed tomography (CT) showed multiple small nodules in both lung fields. A multiple dot-ELISA assay of her serum showed that she had visceral larva migrans caused by Ascaris suum or Toxocara canis. Following treatment with albendazole, she developed myelopathy and was again admitted. A cerebrospinal fluid examination showed increased eosionophils and significant antibody elevation against T. canis. Her disease was considered to have entered the central nervous system, one of the target organs of visceral larva migrans. She was successfully treated with dietylcarbamazine and has shown no reccurrence. This case showed the different manifestations of visceral larva migrans and the rising incidence of this disease in Japan raises concerns about associated of diet.     

Pharmacokinetics of 3-[125I]iodo-alpha-methyl-L-tyrosine, a tumor imaging agent, after probenecid loading in mice implanted with colon cancer DLD-1 cells

INTRODUCTION: In order to improve tumor imaging, changes in the pharmacokinetics of 3-[123I]iodo-alpha-methyl-l-tyrosine ([123I]IMT), an artificial amino acid that exhibits high tumor accumulation, after probenecid (PBC) loading was studied in mice implanted with colon cancer DLD-1 cells using 125I-labeled IMT ([125I]IMT). METHODS: DLD-1-implanted KSN-slc nude male mice received 740 kBq of [125I]IMT via the tail vein at 5 min after 50 mg/kg body weight PBC loading, and autoradiography was performed at 5, 15 and 30 min after injection. Male ddY mice then received 670 kBq of [125I]IMT and 50 mg/kg 2-amino-bicyclo[2,2,1]heptane-2-carboxylic acid (BCH) or p-aminohippurate (PAH) via the tail vein, and kidney autoradiography was performed at 5 min after injection. In vitro inhibition study was then performed based on the accumulation mechanisms of [125I]IMT in DLD-1, using 1 mM l-tyrosine, BCH, alpha-(methylamino)-isobutyric acid, N-benzoyl-beta-alanine, PBC, PAH, 2,4-dinitrophenol and sodium azide. Both Na+-dependent and Na+-independent uptake were investigated. RESULTS: Higher tumor accumulation in PBC-loaded DLD-1-implanted mice was seen when compared to control mice. PAH and BCH, respectively, reduced renal accumulation in the tubule segment-2 (S2)-like and S1-like regions. We confirmed that [125I]IMT transport is predominantly mediated by l-type amino acid transporter-1 in DLD-1 cells. CONCLUSIONS: [125I]IMT uptake is mediated by organic anion and amino acid transporters in the kidney. Organic anion transporter inhibitors may yield better tumor images with good tumor/normal tissue radioactivity ratios if adequate administration plans are developed.     

Effect of flavour components in lemon essential oil on physical or psychological stress

Citrus essential oils, including lemon essential oil, have long been used widely in aromatherapy and alternative medicine. This study was designed to assess the effects of flavour components in lemon essential oil on physical and psychological stress. In this evaluation, acute cold stress and communication box techniques were used to apply stress after intraperitoneal administration of essential oil components such as limonene, γ‐terpinene and citral. Serum corticosterone and monoamines in brain tissues were then determined. In the present study, it found the presence of perillic acid, a limonene metabolite, at concentrations of 1.5–2.5 μg/mL in serum and 0.4–0.6 μg/g in brain tissue collected 3 h after administration. The research also showed that the lemon components R‐limonene, citral and γ‐terpinene inhibited elevation of serum corticosterone levels and cerebral monoamine levels. S‐limonene, a stereoisomer of R‐limonene, seemed to have stronger effect than other monoterpenes and inhibited brain monoamines elevation on psychological stress. These findings suggest that limonenes, and particularly S‐limonene, have a potent stress‐alleviating effect, and the possibility that different stereoisomers of limonene have different levels of activity in their effect on stress responses. These results suggest a possibility that ingestion of lemon essential oil containing components such as limonene and citral alleviates both physical and psychological stress. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Distinctive immunoglobulin VH gene usage in Japanese patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

The incidence of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is low in Asian countries including Japan, while CLL is the most common type of leukemia in the west. To elucidate which factors contribute to the low frequency of CLL in Japan, we investigated immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain gene usage and somatic hypermutation status in 44 Japanese patients with CLL. Only one of these patients used V(H)1-69. The finding is in striking contrast to data from western countries, where the frequency of CLL expressing V(H)1-69 ranges from 12 to 21%.