Effect of age on the sensitivity of the rat thyroid gland to ionizing radiation

Exposure to ionizing radiation during childhood is a well-known risk factor for thyroid cancer. Our study evaluated the effect of age on the radiosensitivity of rat thyroid glands. Four-week-old (4W), 7 -week-old (7W), and 8-month-old (8M) male Wistar rats were exposed to 8 Gy of whole-body X-ray irradiation. Thyroids were removed 3–72 h after irradiation, and non-irradiated thyroids served as controls. Ki67-positivity and p53 binding protein 1 (53BP1) focus formation (a DNA damage response) were evaluated via immunohistochemistry. Amounts of proteins involved in DNA damage response (p53, p53 phosphorylated at serine 15, p21), apoptosis (cleaved caspase-3), and autophagy (LC3, p62) were determined via western blotting. mRNA levels of 84 key autophagy-related genes were quantified using polymerase chain reaction arrays. Ki67-positive cells in 4W (with high proliferative activity) and 7W thyroids significantly decreased in number post-irradiation. The number of 53BP1 foci and amount of p53 phosphorylated at serine 15 increased 3 h after irradiation, regardless of age. No increase in apoptosis or in the levels of p53, p21 or cleaved caspase-3 was detected for any ages. Levels of LC3-II and p62 increased in irradiated 4W but not 8M thyroids, whereas expression of several autophagy-related genes was higher in 4W than 8M irradiated thyroids. Irradiation increased the expression of genes encoding pro-apoptotic proteins in both 4W and 8M thyroids. In summary, no apoptosis or p53 accumulation was noted, despite the expression of some pro-apoptotic genes in immature and adult thyroids. Irradiation induced autophagy in immature, but not in adult, rat thyroids.     

Complete Resolution of a Case of TAFRO Syndrome Accompanied by Mediastinal Panniculitis,Adrenal Lesion,and Liver Damage with Hyperbilirubinemia

TAFRO syndrome is a systemic inflammatory, lymphoproliferative disorder, but the pathophysiology of the disease is unknown. It is typically characterized by thrombocytopenia, anasarca, a fever, reticulin fibrosis, renal dysfunction, and organomegaly. However, other manifestations have been also reported. We encountered a 43-year-old man with TAFRO syndrome who showed mediastinal panniculitis, liver damage, and adrenal lesions in addition to the core signs. He achieved complete remission with combination therapy of corticosteroids, tocilizumab, and cyclosporin, and remission was maintained even after drug discontinuation at 15 months. Atypical manifestations and complete remission of TAFRO syndrome were remarkable features of our case.     

Leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein is a potential biomarker to monitor disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease receiving adalimumab: PLANET study

Journal of Gastroenterology - This multicenter prospective study (UMIN000019958) aimed to evaluate the usefulness of serum leucin-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein (LRG) levels in monitoring disease...     

Reproducibility of intravenous intermittent triggered myocardial contrast echocardiography in healthy subjects

Few data have been published on the reproducibility of baseline subtracted peak intensity obtained from intravenous intermittent triggered myocardial contrast echocardiography. We investigated the reproducibility of the peak intensity measured from intravenous intermittent triggered myocardial contrast echocardiography in 10 young healthy males. The contrast echocardiography was obtained using the second harmonic mode with an intravenous bolus injection of Levovist (first study). The same myocardial contrast echocardiography was repeated after the first study (second study). The myocardial opacification and peak intensity in the 12 segments of the apical 4 and 2 chamber views were assessed visually and quantitatively. The differences in the peak intensity between the initial and repeated measurements in the first study (intraobserver reproducibility) and between the initial measurements in the first and second studies (interinjection reproducibility) were assessed using the Bland and Altman method. The degree of opacification was good or intermediate in 207/228 (91%) of the segments. The agreement of myocardial opacification between the first and second studies was 87/114 (76%). However, significantly higher peak intensity was obtained in apical septal (8200 +/- 6300 au2) and mid septal (8500 +/- 6000 au2) segments in the 4 chamber view and in the mid inferior (12400 +/- 9300 au2) and apical inferior (10700 +/- 6300 au2) segments in the 2 chamber view compared with other segments. The mean differences of the peak intensities according to the Bland and Altman analysis was -1600 +/- 5000 au2 in the intraobserver reproducibility study, and -1100 +/- 5300 au2 in the interinjection reproducibility study. Thus, the measurement error was determined to range from 8400 au2 to 9500 au2 in both studies. We conclude that the peak intensity obtained from intravenous intermittent triggered myocardial contrast echocardiography using Levovist varies significantly among segments in the left ventricular myocardium. Large intraobserver and interinjection variability exists in the measurement of peak intensity, suggesting that the reproducibility of this technique is limited for quantitative assessment of myocardial perfusion.     

Case report of desquamative interstitial pneumonia: documentation of preserved pulmonary function after twelve clinical relapses.

We describe a case of desquamative interstitial pneumonia diagnosed in a 25-year-old woman who relapsed 12 times during a 20-year follow-up period. In each relapse, the involved sites were different and the patient ultimately recovered without resultant pulmonary ventilatory defects. Bronchoalveolar lavage performed during the 12th relapse revealed a remarkable increase in the number of total cells and showed a low CD4+/CD8+ ratio in the lymphocyte subset.     

R353Q polymorphism, activated factor VII, and risk of premature myocardial infarction in Japanese men.

BACKGROUND: The association between myocardial infarction (MI) and the R353Q polymorphism of the Factor VII (FVII) gene, which reportedly influences FVII concentrations, activated Factor VII (FVIIa), or FVII antigen (FVIIag), remains controversial. METHODS AND RESULTS: The present case - control study in 127 Japanese men with their first MI at or before 45 years of age and 150 matched healthy controls was designed to clarify this association in premature MI. R353Q polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction, and plasma concentrations of FVIIa and FVIIag were assayed. The distribution of the RR, RQ, and QQ genotypes with respect to R353Q polymorphism was 117, 10, and 0 in the patients, and 131, 17, and 2 in the controls. The Q allele was negatively associated with premature MI (odds ratio =0.41, p=0.038). The plasma concentration of FVIIa was slightly higher in patients (55.1+/-40.9 U/L) than in controls (44.8+/-20.2 U/L), but not significantly (p=0.078); the plasma concentration of FVIIag did not differ between patients (88.7+/-15.7%) and controls (87.0+/-9.0%) (p=0.557). Plasma FVIIa concentrations were influenced by R353Q polymorphism (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The Q allele may be protective against premature MI.