The Specificity of the Penetrating and the Superficial Spreading Types of Early Gastric Cancer—Classification of Early Gastric Cancer Using the Interactive Image Analysis System—

Abstract: Specific types of early gastric cancer were investigated in accordance with the cancer surface area and the degree of penetration by means of quantitative measurements of the surface area of early gastric cancer using the interactive image analysis system. The results indicated a significant correlation between the surface area and the penetration depth in ordinary early gastric cancer. However these correlations were not observed in both well and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma cases of the so-called PEN and SUPER types, which showed a significant specificity when compared with ordinary early gastric cancer. The PEN and SUPER types of early gastric cancer also exhibited various clinicopathological characteristics, and it was suggested that the poorly differentiated PEN type might be the initial lesion of a linitis plastica type gastric cancer. Examination of the conditions of the mucosa surrounding the cancer revealed a difference between the PEN and the SUPER types, and this suggested that the environment at the site of a cancer growth influences the type of growth and the spread of early gastric cancer.     

Myoclonic Astatic Epilepsy Presenting Eyelid Myoclonic Seizures Induced by Closing of Eyes

Abstract: A male infant with myoclonic astatic epilepsy showed myoclonic seizures of the eyelids by closing of the eyes. There was no photosensitivity in EEG with flash-stimulation and he could induce seizures even in total darkness. The latency between a lid closure and onset of seizure discharges on EEG was relatively long (0.3-0.5 second). Epileptic seizures in this patient may be induced via a brainstem reticular formation, and elevated Bell's position seems to be the necessary stimulus to produce seizures.     

Suppression of Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum-sensing systems by macrolides: a promising strategy or an oriental mystery?

A breakthrough in antibiotic chemotherapy for patients with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa pulmonary infections was brought about by findings in a patient with diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB), who had been treated with erythromycin over a period of years. Recent clinical trials have demonstrated that long-term macrolide therapy can be used not only for DPB patients but also for those with other chronic infections, including patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The pathogenesis of chronic P. aeruginosa infection is considered to arise from a bacterial cell-to-cell signaling mechanism, named “quorum-sensing”, which enables the bacteria to coordinately turn on and off their virulence genes through the production of autoinducer molecules. Accumulating evidence from clinical and basic science fields suggests the potential of macrolides as Pseudomonas quorum-sensing inhibitors. In this review, we briefly summarize the data on the clinical efficacy of macrolides in DPB and CF patients. Then we discuss the mechanisms of action of macrolides from the viewpoint of sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (sub-MIC) macrolide effects on P. aeruginosa, particularly the potential activity of this antibiotic to suppress the bacterial quorum-sensing system.     

Effect of Interleukin-10 on Gut-Derived Sepsis Caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Mice

We evaluated the protective effect of interleukin-10 (IL-10) against murine gut-derived sepsis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Gut-derived sepsis was induced by administering cyclophosphamide and ampicillin while feeding P. aeruginosa to specific-pathogen-free mice. Treating mice with recombinant human IL-10 (rhIL-10) at 1.0 or 5.0 μg/mouse twice a day following the second cyclophosphamide administration significantly increased the survival rate compared to that of control mice treated with saline; however, treatment with rhIL-10 at 0.1 μg/mouse did not result in significant protection. Bacterial counts in the liver, spleen, and blood were all significantly lower in mice treated with rhIL-10 than in saline-treated control mice. Treatment with rhIL-10 significantly suppressed tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and gamma interferon levels in the serum of mice following induction of gut-derived sepsis. We also studied the effect of IL-10 on leukocyte recovery after cyclophosphamide treatment of mice. Administration of rhIL-10 intraperitoneally at 1.0 μg/mouse significantly accelerated the recovery of leukocytes in comparison with that of the group of saline-treated controls. These results indicate that IL-10 shows a protective effect against gut-derived P. aeruginosa sepsis. We suspect that the mechanism of this effect is that IL-10 regulates in vivo production of inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, acceleration of leukocyte recovery by IL-10 after cyclophosphamide-induced depression may also play an important role in this protection.     

Ileocolonic lymphomas: a series of 16 cases

BACKGROUND: Colonoscopic and clinical differences between primary ileocolonic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) have not been defined. METHODS: We reviewed colonoscopic and clinical features in eight patients with primary MALT lymphoma and eight patients with MCL in the terminal ileum and/or colorectum. All cases were examined for CD5 and/or cyclin D1 expression. RESULTS: Endoscopic features of MALT lymphoma were characterized as protrusions that were covered with normal-appearing mucosa with or without ulceration. The gross appearances of MALT lymphomas were categorized as solitary (4 patients), multiple (3 patients), and multiple lymphomatous polyposis (MLP) (1 patient). The gross features of MCL at endoscopy were categorized as multiple protrusions (2 patients), and MLP (6 patients). The clinical stages of patients with MCL were more advanced than in patients with MALT lymphoma. CONCLUSIONS: Solitary or multiple protrusions at an early clinical stage is the most common presentation pattern of patients with MALT lymphoma, but an MLP appearance at an early stage is also possible. On the other hand, MLP appearance with an advanced clinical stage is the main presentation pattern in patients with MCL, although multiple protrusions with an early clinical stage is also possible. Histological and immunohistochemical investigation including that of cyclin D1 and CD5 expression is essential to make the final diagnosis.     

Rapid and sensitive mycoplasma detection system using image-based deep learning

Journal of Artificial Organs - A major concern in the clinical application of cell therapy is the manufacturing cost of cell products, which mainly depends on quality control. The mycoplasma test,...     

Evaluations for surrounding tissue incorporation after implantation of synthetic vascular prostheses in animal models

Journal of Artificial Organs - Incorporation of surrounding tissues after implantation of synthetic vascular prostheses potentially varies in accordance with implanted prostheses. To evaluate...     

Quantitative chest CT for subtyping chronic lung allograft dysfunction and its association with survival

Chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) is a major cause of mortality in lung transplant recipients. CLAD can be sub‐divided into at least 2 subtypes with distinct mortality risk characteristics: restrictive allograft syndrome (RAS), which demonstrates increased overall computed tomography (CT) lung density in contrast with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), which demonstrates reduced overall CT lung density. This study aimed to evaluate a reader‐independent quantitative density metric (QDM) derived from CT histograms to associate with CLAD survival. A retrospective study evaluated CT scans corresponding to CLAD onset using pulmonary function tests in 74 patients (23 RAS, 51 BOS). Two different QDM values (QDM1 and QDM2) were calculated using CT lung density histograms. Calculation of QDM1 includes the extreme edges of the histogram. Calculation of QDM2 includes the central region of the histogram. Kaplan‐Meier analysis and Cox regression analysis were used for CLAD prognosis. Higher QDM values were significantly associated with decreased survival. The hazard ratio for death was 3.2 times higher at the 75th percentile compared to the 25th percentile using QDM1 in a univariate model. QDM may associate with CLAD patient prognosis.     

In vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of quinupristin-dalfopristin, a novel injectable streptogramin, against gram-positive cocci and gram-negative respiratory tract pathogens

Quinupristin-dalfopristin, a novel injectable streptogramin, was evaluated for both in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities in comparison with those of erythromycin, azithromycin, clindamycin, vancomycin, ampicillin, imipenem, and ciprofloxacin. Quinupristin-dalfopristin had high activity against staphylococci and streptococci, including methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and penicillin-resistantStreptococcus pneumoniae, with MICs at which 90% of strains tested are inhibited (MIC₉₀) equal to 1 μg/mL or less. AgainstEnterococcus spp, quinupristin-dalfopristin was less active than vancomycin with an MIC₉₀ of 32 μg/mL, while againstHaemophilus influenzae, Moraxella (B) catarrhalis andBordetella pertussis, the MIC₉₀s of quinupristin-dalfopristin were 4.0, 1.0, and 0.1 μg/mL, respectively. The minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of quinupristin-dalfopristin against methicillin-susceptible staphylococci, penicillin-resistantS. pneumoniae andH. influenzae were similar to the MIC values, while the MBCs for MRSA andE. faecalis were at least 8-fold greater than the corresponding MIC values. In a murine lung infection model using penicillin-resistantS. pneumoniae, treatment with quinupristin-dalfopristin resulted in a significant reduction in the number of organisms in the lungs compared with that in untreated animals or erythromycin-treated mice (P<0.05). The in vivo efficacy of quinupristin-dalfopristin against experimental septicemia caused by penicillin-sensitiveS. pneumoniae and MRSA was less than that using vancomycin and imipenem-cilastatin, even though it had higher in vitro activity.     

Magnetic resonance velocity mapping of normal transtricuspid velocity profiles

To investigate the velocity profiles of transtricuspid inflow, we examined 20 normal subjects (17 males and 3 females, mean age 27 ± 7) by the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Electrocardiographic gating was performed in all anatomical and flow studies, and sequences were triggered by the R wave. Cine gradient echo images (echo time, 14 ms) were acquired in the right ventricular horizontal long axis, and from these, cine images with velocity mapping were obtained in the short axis of the right ventricle. Velocity mapping of right ventricular inflow was obtained at peak early diastolic filling. Velocity profile curves across the tricuspid inflow were obtained at each 1 cm interval from the tricuspid ring to 3 cm into the cavity. Maximum/mean velocity was 1.1 ± 0.1 at ring level, unchanged at 1 cm from the tricuspid ring, and thereafter increased to 1.4 ± 0.3 at 2 cm, and 1.5 ± 0.3 at 3 cm as peak velocity fell. The ratio of the longest and shortest jet width cross section was 1.3 ± 0.3 at ring level, and increased to 1.5 ± 0.3 at 3 cm from ring level. Jet cross sectional area was 10.4 ± 2.1 cm² at ring level, and was unchanged at 3 cm level. Thus, tricuspid inflow velocity showed a relatively flat profile at the tricuspid ring and tip level, becoming more dispersed at 2 and 3 cm from the ring. Right ventricular inflow jet cross section was elliptic, and appeared to be relatively constant in the cross- sectional area.