Adenosine stimulates fibroblast growth factor-7 gene expression via adenosine A2b receptor signaling in dermal papilla cells

It has been previously reported that an adenosine receptor-mediated signal-transduction pathway in the dermal papilla cells (DPCs) of hair contributes to minoxidil-induced hair growth. In this study, we investigated this hypothesis further and have elucidated some underlying mechanisms. We performed DNA microarray analyses of DPCs and found that adenosine stimulation increases fibroblast growth factor-7 (FGF-7) gene expression levels by greater than 2-fold. Elevations of the extracellular FGF-7 protein levels were also observed. These upregulations of FGF-7 both at mRNA and protein levels were inhibited by A2b adenosine receptor-specific antagonist, alloxazine, but not by antagonists for other subtypes. In addition, the intracellular cAMP levels were raised by adenosine in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, an increase of intracellular cAMP augmented the FGF-7 upregulation. Taken together, these results show that adenosine treatment of DPCs upregulates FGF-7 expression via the A2b adenosine receptor and that cAMP acts as one of the second messengers in this pathway. Furthermore, treatment with FGF-7 at concentrations of 10 ng/ml or greater significantly stimulated hair fiber elongation in human scalp hair follicle organ cultures. These data imply that adenosine might stimulate hair growth through FGF-7 upregulation in DPCs.     

Primary diffuse leptomeningeal gliosarcomatosis

We report a 48-year-old woman with primary diffuse leptomeningeal gliomatosis (PDLG) histologically diagnosed as gliosarcoma. She was admitted complaining of headache, numbness of the right arm, double vision, and visual field defects. Computerized tomography (CT) scans showed ventricular dilatation consistent with communicating hydrocephalus. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed diffuse meningeal thickening and gadolinium enhancement without a definite intraparenchymal lesion. Whole-spine MRI demonstrated across-the-board dural thickening and gadolinium enhancement. Cytological examination showed atypical anaplastic cells. As no diagnosis could be made she underwent biopsy of the leptomeninges. Histological examination of the specimen returned a diagnosis of gliosarcoma. Despite chemotherapy and radiotherapy she died 11 months after admission. Autopsy findings included gliosarcoma in the leptomeninges and spinal cord without an underlying parenchymal tumor. To our knowledge, this is the first report of primary diffuse leptomeningeal gliosarcomatosis.     

Miller Fisher Syndrome Following Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2

After BNT162b2 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination, a 30-year-old man developed bilateral lateral gaze palsy, diplopia, absent tendon reflexes, and ataxic gait. Serum anti-GQ1b and anti-GT1a immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies were strongly positive. Based on those findings, he was diagnosed with Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS). Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy was administered, and his symptoms fully recovered within approximately 3 months. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to describe the development of MFS after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination.     

Impact of diabetes and Krebs von den Lungen‐6 on coronavirus disease 2019 severity: A single‐center study from Japan

Aims/IntroductionDiabetes mellitus is reported as a risk factor for increased coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) severity and mortality, but there have been few reports from Japan. Associations between diabetes mellitus and COVID‐19 severity and mortality were investigated in a single Japanese hospital.Materials and MethodsPatients aged ≥20 years admitted to Osaka City General Hospital for COVID‐19 treatment between April 2020 and March 2021 were included in this retrospective, observational study. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was carried out to examine whether diabetes mellitus contributes to COVID‐19‐related death and severity.ResultsOf the 262 patients included, 108 (41.2%) required invasive ventilation, and 34 (13.0%) died in hospital. The diabetes group (n = 92) was significantly older, more obese, had longer hospital stays, more severe illness and higher mortality than the non‐diabetes group (n = 170). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, age (odds ratio [OR] 1.054, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.023–1.086), body mass index (OR 1.111, 95% CI 1.028–1.201), history of diabetes mellitus (OR 2.429, 95% CI 1.152–5.123), neutrophil count (OR 1.222, 95% CI 1.077–1.385), C‐reactive protein (OR 1.096, 95% CI 1.030–1.166) and Krebs von den Lungen‐6 (OR 1.002, 95% CI 1.000–1.003) were predictors for COVID‐19 severity (R ²= 0.468). Meanwhile, age (OR 1.104, 95% CI 1.037–1.175) and Krebs von den Lungen‐6 (OR 1.003, 95% CI 1.001–1.005) were predictors for COVID‐19‐related death (R ²= 0.475).ConclusionsDiabetes mellitus was a definite risk factor for COVID‐19 severity in a single Japanese hospital treating moderately‐to‐severely ill patients.     

Purification of three antihemorrhagic factors from the serum of a mongoose (Herpestes edwardsii)

Three antihemorrhagic factors (AHF-1, AHF-2 and AHF-3) were purified from the serum of H. edwardsii, a mongoose, by a combination of gel filtration on a Sephadex G-200 column and high performance liquid chromatography with a TSK gel DEAE-5PW column. Each of the purified antihemorrhagic factors showed a single band on polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis. The three antihemorrhagic factors inhibited the hemorrhagic activity of HR 1 and HR 2, the hemorrhagic principles from the snake venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis Okinawa. AHF-1, AHF-2 and AHF-3 were stable at temperatures from 0 degrees to 60 degrees C and at pH values between 2.0 and 11.0. The same molecular weight (65,000) was obtained for the three antihemorrhagic factors. No precipitin lines were found for the purified antihemorrhagic factors with the venom of T. flavoviridis Okinawa and its hemorrhagic principles, HR 1 and HR 2.     

Sensory Ataxic Guillain-Barré Syndrome with Dysgeusia after mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) has occasionally occurred in people who have received coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. Dysgeusia is rare symptom of GBS. We herein report a rare case of sensory ataxic GBS with dysgeusia just after the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Although autoantibodies against glycolipids were not detected, immunotherapy with intravenous immunoglobulin and methylprednisolone pulse therapy effectively ameliorated the symptoms. Our report suggests that the COVID-19 vaccine may induce various clinical subtypes of GBS, including a rare variant with sensory ataxia and dysgeusia.     

Inhibition of autophagy by chloroquine makes chemotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma more efficient

Objectives

A combination of platinum-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy is the standard treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the efficacy of chemotherapy has reached a plateau. Many autophagy studies suggest that autophagy can either promote or suppress to cancer progression. Thus, a role of autophagy in the acquisition of chemoradioresistance has recently been a notable event. Therefore, we examined the relationship between autophagy and chemotherapy in NPC.