Recurrence and regrowth of benign meningiomas

The World Health Organization (WHO) grading system for meningioma is helpful for predicting aggressive subtypes. However, even benign meningiomas sometimes show relatively rapid growth and may recur after total removal. We attempted to find histopathological features that would be valuable for predicting recurrence or regrowth of WHO grade I meningiomas. We investigated 135 benign meningiomas, of which 120 were totally removed (Simpson’s grade I–III). The median follow-up period was 9.7 years (1–21 years). The recurrence rate in the patients with total removal was 7.5% at 10 years and 9.3% at 20 years. The univariate analysis revealed that MIB-1 index (≥2%), existence of mitosis, absence of calcification, and paucity of fibrosis significantly correlated with recurrence. On the other hand, the histological features of sheet-like growth, prominent nucleoli, and necrosis did not correlate with recurrence, because they were relatively rare in grade I tumors. Multivariate analysis revealed that high MIB-1 index and absence of calcification significantly correlated with recurrence. The patients with recurrent or residual tumors did not always receive adjuvant treatment. Including subtotally treated tumors, the retreatment rate was 9.8% at 10 years and 25.6% at 20 years. MIB-1 index and Simpson’s grade significantly correlated with retreatment in both univariate and multivariate analyses.     

Intraocular pressure elevation following triamcinolone acetonide administration as related to administration routes

Purpose  

To evaluate the incidence and risk factors of intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation following triamcinolone acetonide (TA) administration.     

DISCRIMINATION BETWEEN SCLEROSING CHOLANGITIS‐ASSOCIATED AUTOIMMUNE PANCREATITIS AND PRIMARY SCLEROSING CHOLANGITIS,CANCER USING INTRADUCTAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY

Background and Aim: Differentiation of sclerosing cholangitis‐associated autoimmune pancreatitis (SC‐AIP), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and cancer of the hilar part of the bile duct (CHB) has been challenging. The aim of the present study was to evaluate characteristic intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) features that could be used to discriminate SC‐AIP from PSC and CHB. Methods: Six patients with SC‐AIP, 10 patients with PSC and 12 patients with CHB were identified. We reviewed the following bile duct features observed using IDUS to determine their usefulness for differentiating SC‐AIP from PSC and CHB: presence of symmetrical wall thickness, wall thickness, presence of homogeneous internal foci and presence of lateral mucosal lesions continuous to the hilar. Results: IDUS results (SC‐AIP, PSC, CHB) were as follows: wall thickness (mm), 3.7 ± 0.9, 2.6 ± 0.9, 2.8 ± 0.0.6; presence of symmetrical wall thickness, 100% (6/6), 20% (2/10), 8.3% (1/12); presence of homogeneous internal foci, 100% (6/6), 10% (1/10), 8.3% (1/12); and presence of lateral mucosal lesions continuous to the hilar, 83.3% (5/6), 40%(4/10), 25% (3/12). Symmetrical wall thickness of the bile duct, homogeneous internal foci and lateral mucosal lesions continuous to the hilar were detected significantly more often among the patients with SC‐PSC than among the patients with PSC or CHB (P < 0.05). Conclusions: IDUS findings, such as symmetrical wall thickness, presence of homogeneous internal foci and presence of lateral mucosal lesions continuous to the hilar can facilitate the differential diagnosis of SC‐AIP from PSC and CHB.     

MRI findings of an inflammatory variant of well-differentiated liposarcoma

The inflammatory variant of well-differentiated liposarcoma (WDLPS) is a rare subtype. We present a 75-year-old woman who had a tumor that was difficult to diagnose preoperatively. Magnetic resonance imaging of the tumor revealed a large, lobulated heterogeneous soft tissue mass with a distinctive pattern of intermingled well-differentiated fatty elements and nodular areas of high T2-intensity tissue.     

EDTA-Reduction of Water to Molecular Hydrogen Catalyzed by Visible-Light-Response TiO2-Based Materials Sensitized by Dawson- and Keggin-Type Rhenium(V)-Containing Polyoxotungstates

The synthesis and characterization of a Keggin-type mono-rhenium(V)- substituted polyoxotungstate are described. The dimethylammonium salt [Me₂NH₂]₄[PW₁₁Re^VO₄₀] was obtained as analytically pure homogeneous black-purple crystals by reacting mono-lacunary Keggin polyoxotungstate with [Re^IVCl₆]^2- in water, followed by crystallization from acetone at ca. 5 °C. Single-crystal X-ray structural analysis of [PW₁₁Re^VO₄₀]^4- revealed a monomeric structure with overall T_d symmetry. Characterization of [Me₂NH₂]₄[PW₁₁Re^VO₄₀] was also accomplished by elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility, TG/DTA, FTIR, UV-vis, diffuse reflectance (DR) UV-vis, and solution ³¹P-NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore, [PW₁₁Re^VO₄₀]^4- and the Dawson-type dirhenium(V)-oxido-bridged polyoxotungstate [O{Re^V(OH)(α₂-P₂W₁₇O₆₁)}₂]^14- were supported onto anatase TiO₂ surface by the precipitation methods using CsCl and Pt(NH₃)₄Cl₂. With these materials, hydrogen evolution from water in the presence of EDTA·2Na (ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid disodium salt) under visible light irradiation (≥400 nm) was achieved.     

ADAMTS-13 cysteine-rich/spacer domains are functionally essential for von Willebrand factor cleavage

A severe lack of von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease (VWF-CP) activity can cause thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). This protease was recently identified as a member of the ADAMTS family, ADAMTS-13. It consists of a preproregion, a metalloprotease domain, a disintegrin-like domain, a thrombospondin type-1 motif (Tsp1), a cysteine-rich domain, a spacer domain, additional Tsp1 repeats, and CUB domains. To explore the structural and functional relationships of ADAMTS-13, we prepared here 13 sequential COOH-terminal truncated mutants and a single-point mutant (ArgGlyAsp [RGD] to ArgGlyGlu [RGE] in the cysteine-rich domain) and compared the activity of each mutant with that of the wild-type protein. The results revealed that the truncation of the cysteine-rich/spacer domains caused a remarkable reduction in VWF-CP activity. We also prepared immunoglobulin G (IgG) fractions containing inhibitory autoantibodies against ADAMTS-13 from plasma from 3 patients with acquired TTP, and we performed mapping of their epitopes using the aforementioned mutants. The major epitopes of these antibodies were found to reside within the cysteine-rich/spacer domains. These results suggest that the ADAMTS-13 cysteine-rich/spacer domains are essential for VWF-CP activity.