Inverted papilloma of the urinary bladder

Five cases of inverted papilloma in the bladder are reported. All cases were males complaining of dysuria or hematuria. Total cystectomy with construction of ileal conduit was carried out in the first case, and transurethral resection in the other cases. Every surgical specimen was histologically diagnosed as inverted papilloma. The inverted papilloma is a distinct lesion characterized by its rarity compared to frequency of the other vesical papillomas. The prognosis is generally benign, but the possibility of recurrence and malignant transformation indicates the necessity of a close periodical follow-up.     

Plasma soluble fibrin monomer complexes in nephrotic syndrome--with reference to hypoalbuminemia

Plasma soluble fibrin monomer complexes (SFMC) in 10 patients with nephrotic syndrome were measured to demonstrate the contribution of hypoalbuminemia to the SFMC formation. The levels of SFMC as well as plasma fibrinogen (Fbg) levels were significantly higher than those in control subjects. There was a negative correlation between the levels of SFMC and serum albumin, and also between Fbg and serum albumin. The increase in SFMC levels which indicates the intravascular generation of thrombin might be correlated to hypoalbuminemia in nephrotic syndrome with hypercoagulability.     

A Case of ST‐Elevation Acute Myocardial Infarction in a Nonhospitalized Patient with SARS‐CoV‐2 Pneumonia: Treatment with Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

We experienced a case of primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) using appropriate infection prevention protocol. However, recanalization was difficult due to severe coagulopathy. Further researches are needed to clarify optimal treatment for STEMI in patients with COVID‐19.     

Demonstration of epitope-spreading phenomena in bullous pemphigoid: results of a prospective multicenter study

Bullous pemphigoid (BP), the most common autoimmune subepidermal bullous disease, is associated with an autoantibody response to BP180 and BP230, two components of junctional adhesion complexes in human skin promoting dermo-epidermal cohesion. Retrospective analyses demonstrated that these autoantigens harbor several epitopes targeted by autoaggressive B and T cells. The aim of this prospective multicenter study was to assess the evolution of IgG autoantibodies in 35 BP patients over a 12-month observation period. Epitope-spreading (ES) events were detected in 17 of 35 BP patients (49%). They preferentially occurred in an early stage of the disease and were significantly related to disease severity at diagnosis. Moreover, in three patients, spreading of IgG reactivity to intracellular epitopes of BP180 and BP230 was preceded by recognition of the BP180 ectodomain. Finally, IgG reactivity with extracellular epitopes of BP180 and intracellular epitopes of BP230 correlated with the severity of BP in disease course. These findings support the idea that IgG recognition of the BP180 ectodomain is an early and crucial event in BP disease, followed by variable intra- and intermolecular ES events, which likely shape the individual course of BP.     

Evaluation of pathological features of hepatocellular carcinoma by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography: comparison with pathology on resected specimen

Features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) observed by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) were compared to pathological features of corresponding resected HCC specimens, to evaluate the ability of CEUS to depict the pathological features of HCC. We investigated 50 HCC nodules that were treated by surgical resection. All nodules had been examined by CEUS with intravenous contrast agent (Levovist) before surgery. CEUS findings were divided into three phases for evaluation and classification of enhancement patterns: two vascular phases (arterial phase and portal venous phase) and the delayed phase. Pathological examination focused on differentiation and on the presence or absence of a tumor capsule, intratumoral septum, and intratumoral necrosis. All 21 nodules that showed a linear or annular vessel around the tumor margin in the arterial phase had capsular formation. Of the 27 nodules that showed heterogeneous perfusion in the portal venous phase, 21 (77.8%) had an intratumoral septum and 23 (85.2%) showed intratumoral necrosis. All nodules that were depicted as a defect with an unclear margin in the delayed phase were well-differentiated HCCs, whereas all nodules that were depicted as a defect with a clear margin were moderately or poorly differentiated HCCs. From our observations, the arterial, portal venous, and delayed phases of CEUS could reflect different pathological aspects of HCC. Some pathological characteristics of HCC might be evaluated preoperatively and non-invasively, by means of combined analysis of three phases of CEUS findings.     

Detection of IgG and IgE reactivity to BP180 using the ISAC® microarray system

Background  Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune skin disease in which patient autoantibodies react with BP180 and BP230 proteins. In addition to IgG, IgE has been shown to play a role in the disease. Objectives  To evaluate the feasibility of detecting IgE and IgG against the immunodominant BP180 NC16A domain (BP180) using a microarray system. Methods  BP180 was immobilized on an experimental version of the ISAC^® microarray (Exp96). The BP study group and the controls were all tested on the commercial ISAC 103 version and on the Exp96. IgG and IgE were measured in a single run. BP180 IgG and IgE results were compared with those using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results  All results obtained using the IgG ELISA on the 31 patients with BP were replicated with the ISAC IgG. Five of eight BP sera tested by ELISA showed similar results with ISAC IgE. Twenty‐nine (94%) and 19 (61%) of the 31 patients with BP were IgG and IgE positive to BP180, respectively, whereas four (3%) and six (4%) of 138 normal donors were IgG and IgE positive, respectively. Interestingly, the levels of IgG against BP180 detected using the ISAC system were related to the disease severity. Patients with BP showed a peculiar profile of IgE recognition toward some groups of allergens, which was absent in a group of allergic individuals. A significant, higher prevalence of hen’s egg recognition was observed in patients with BP who had specific IgE to BP180. Conclusions  The present preliminary study indicates that the ISAC microarray system is suitable for detecting IgG and IgE autoantibodies in patients with BP. Notably, this system allows the assessment of IgE and IgG autoantibodies at the same time, could be employed for the detection of autoantibodies to other autoantigens, and allows profiling for specific IgE to allergens.     

Bacterial adherence to gingival epithelial cells of rats with naturally occurring gingivitis

Bacterial adherence to gingival cells was compared in rats with spontaneous gingivitis (SUS rat) and in control rats (RES rat). In the SUS rat, the number of adherent bacteria in gingival cells changed according to the progression of gingival inflammation. There was a correlation between the change of the number of adherent bacteria, progress of inflammation and pH in the pocket. In the RES rat, the number of adherent bacteria was constant and very small. In the adherence assay, adherence of Bacteroides intermedius to epithelial cells was dependent on the pH. Adherence of B. intermedius was better than that of other species. B. gingivalis and B. macacae showed good adherence but B. levii showed poor adherence. Adherence to the epithelial cells of the SUS rat was always better than that of the RES rat. These results were supported by scanning electron microscopic studies.