Analysis of transmural trends in myocardial integrated backscatter in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis.

Cardiac involvement in progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) is common and has a strong negative impact on the prognosis, especially when autoantibodies are present. To determine whether ultrasonic tissue characterization can detect early ultrastructural changes in the sclerodermal myocardium, we analyzed the transmural heterogeneity in myocardial integrated backscatter (THIB). "A-THIB" was defined as the absolute difference in integrated backscatter between the left (subendocardial) and right (subepicardial) ventricular halves of the myocardium in the septum and posterior wall, and was measured in 11 patients with PSS and 10 age- and sex-matched healthy participants. A-THIB in patients with PSS was higher than that in healthy participants (1.3 +/- 1.3 vs 4.0 +/- 1.4 dB for the septum and 1.1 +/- 0.7 dB vs 2.8 +/- 0.4 dB for the posterior wall; mean +/- SD, respectively, P <.0005). Septal A-THIB was higher in patients with PSS with than without anti-Scl70 or antinucleolar antibodies (3.2 +/- 1.1 vs 5.0 +/- 1.0 dB, P =.0165). Early changes in the myocardium of patients with PSS, possibly related to increased interstitial collagen deposition, can be detected by quantitative analysis of THIB.     

Role of endoscopic ultrasonography in the diagnosis of early esophageal carcinoma

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for the diagnosis and staging of early esophageal carcinoma is discussed. Based on the nine-layered structure of esophageal wall, which is in good correspondence with histological layers, depth of carcinoma invasion can be investigated. Ultrasound endoscopes and probes are used for the examination. Ultrasound probes with 20 MHz and 30 MHz transducers can demonstrate the clear images of early esophageal carcinoma by using water filling method, which can discuss the change of the esophageal wall from the surface layer. Although the early esophageal carcinoma is detected by endoscopic findings with or without the dye spraying method by iodine, the diagnosis of depth of carcinoma invasion is not easy. EUS can assist in the diagnosis of depth of carcinoma invasion. Confirming the depth of carcinoma invasion by EUS and the lesion is limited to the mucosa. Endoscopists can decide the indication for endoscopic resection of the lesions.     

Expression of the P2Y2 receptor on the rat ocular surface during a 1-year rearing period

Purpose

P2Y₂ receptors are expressed on ocular surface tissues. Diquafosol ophthalmic solution (DIQUAS^® ophthalmic solution 3 %; Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) acts on these receptors and promotes the secretion of water and mucin. It has been shown to be an efficient dry eye treatment. If P2Y₂ receptor expression on the ocular surface decreases with age, the effect of diquafosol may be reduced in elderly persons. In this study, we investigated the changes in P2Y₂ receptor expression on the rat ocular surface over an extended period of time.

Methods

P2Y₂ receptor expression in the conjunctiva, cornea, meibomian gland and lacrimal glands of male and female Sprague–Dawley rats was examined from 5 weeks until 53 weeks of age using immunostaining and quantitative-PCR.

Results

In the immunohistological examinations, P2Y₂ receptor expression was observed in the conjunctival epithelium containing goblet cells, corneal epithelium, meibomian gland ductal epithelium and lacrimal gland ductal epithelium. However, its expression was not significantly different between each age group or between sexes. Regarding P2Y₂ receptor mRNA expression, there was an age-related increase in the bulbar conjunctiva. In particular, a significant increase was observed in the 53-week-old age group as compared to the 5-week-old female age group. However, age-related changes in expression were not observed in the cornea or meibomian gland in males or females.

Conclusions

We observed no significant age-related decrease was observed for P2Y₂ receptor protein and mRNA expression on rat ocular surface tissues.     

Mesenchymal stem cells administered in the early phase of tumorigenesis inhibit colorectal tumor development in rats

To investigate the differences between the effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) administered in the early and late phases of tumorigenesis, MSCs were isolated from bone marrow and colorectal tumors were produced by exposing 7-week-old F344 rats to 1,2-dimethylhydrazine and dextran sulfate sodium. We evaluated tumor number and volume (week 25), MSC localization, number of aberrant crypt foci (ACF), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 protein levels in the rectum after administration of MSCs (week 5 or 15), and the effects of MSC-conditioned medium on ACL15 cell proliferation. Administered MSCs labeled with PKH26 were observed in the rectum. Administered MSCs in the early phase (week 5) before tumor occurrence (week 12) significantly decreased tumor number and volume (1.5 vs 4 and 21 mm³ vs 170 mm³; p<0.01), but not administered MSCs in the late phase (week 15). Administered MSCs in the early phase reduced ACF number on days 14 and 35 (1.9 vs 4.1 and 3.7 vs 7.3; p<0.01). Rectal TGF-β1 increased 1.3 fold on day 3, and MSC-conditioned medium containing TGF-β1 abundantly inhibited ACL15 cell proliferation. MSCs administered in the early phase but not late phase inhibited colorectal tumor development in a rat model.     

Hot-compressed-water decomposed products from bamboo manifest a selective cytotoxicity against acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells

We examined the effect of hot-compressed-water (HCW) extracted and fractionated bamboo products (named as fractions A and B) on the viability of human cultured cell lines, derived from leukemia patients and human peripheral blood lymphocytes, obtained from normal adults. Fraction A was composed of xylose, xylooligosaccharides and water-soluble lignin, determined by high-performance anion exchange chromatography and spectrophotometry. Fraction B was composed of glucose and celooligosaccharides. It was found that Fraction B expressed a negligible cytotoxic effect against leukemia cells, while Fraction A reduced markedly (in a dose-dependent manner) the viability of leukemia cell lines, derived from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)––Jurkat and MOLT-4. Fraction A did not influence the viability of leukemia cells, derived from myelogenous leukemia (ML-2) or lymphoma (SupT-1), as well as the viability of normal lymphocytes. Furthermore, microscopic examination of ALL-derived cells treated with Fraction A showed typical apoptotic morphological changes such as a condensation of nucleus and membrane blebing, as well as phosphatidylserine (PSer) exposure on the cell surface. The effect of decomposed products of commercially available xylan against ALL-derived Jurkat cells was significantly lower than that of Fraction A. These results suggest that the cytotoxic effect of Fraction A may be attributed to apoptosis, induced by xylooligosaccharides and it is specific for ALL-derived cells. We speculate that the water-soluble lignin is an important factor, potentiating the cytotoxic effect of xylan in HCW-extracts from bamboo.     

Effects of diffusional kurtosis imaging parameters on diffusion quantification

Diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) is a new technique based on non-Gaussian water diffusion analysis. However, the original DKI protocol (six b values and 30 motion-probing gradient (MPG) directions) requires more than 10 min of scanning time, which is too long for daily clinical use. We aimed to find suitable b value, MPG direction, and diffusion time settings for faster DKI. Four normal healthy subjects participated in the study. All DKI data sets were acquired on a clinical 3T-MRI scanner (Philips Medical Systems) with use of three protocols of 0–7500 s/mm² b values, 6–32 MPG directions, and 23–80 ms diffusion time. There was a remarkable difference in the standard deviation (SD) of the mean DK values in the number of MPG directions. The mean DK values were significantly higher in the posterior limb of the internal capsule (p = 0.003, r = 0.924) and thalamus (p = 0.005, r = 0.903), whereas the mean DK values of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (p = 0.001, r = ?0.976) were significantly lower when we used a longer diffusion time. Our results indicate that the SD of the mean DK values was higher in 15 MPG directions than in 20 MPG directions and more. Because the mean DK values of the CSF were significantly lower when we used longer diffusion times, we expect longer diffusion times to be useful for DKI. We propose the following imaging parameters for clinical use: 0, 1000, and 2000 s/mm² b values; 20 MPG directions; Δ/δ 45.3/13.3 ms.     

Comparison of transplant outcomes between haploidentical transplantation and single cord blood transplantation in non-remission acute myeloid leukaemia: A nationwide retrospective study

Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a potentially curative treatment for some patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) who are refractory to chemotherapy. Cord blood transplantation (CBT) is a reasonable option in such cases because of its rapid availability. Recently, a growing number of human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-haploidentical related donor HSCTs (haplo-HSCTs) have been performed, although its effectiveness remains undetermined. Using the Japanese nationwide transplantation registry data, we identified 2438 patients aged ≥16 years who received CBT or haplo-HSCT as their first transplant for non-remission AML between January 2008 and December 2018. After 2:1 propensity score matching, 918 patients in the CBT group and 459 patients in the haplo-HSCT group were selected. In this matched cohort, no significant difference in overall survival (OS) was observed between the CBT and haplo-HSCT groups (hazard ratio [HR] of haplo-HSCT to CBT 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.89–1.16). Similarly, no significant difference in the cumulative incidence of relapse (HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.93–1.28) or non-relapse mortality (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.76–1.18). Subgroup analysis showed that CBT was significantly associated with preferable OS in patients receiving myeloablative conditioning. Our data showed comparable outcomes between haplo-HSCT and CBT recipients with non-remission AML.     

A case of mucinous carcinoma of the skin

We were consulted by an 81-year-old man who had been complaining of a slow-growing tumor on his abdomen for 20 years. Histologically, small islets of the tumor cells were floating in mucinous lake separated by fibrous septa, so we diagnosed this tumor as mucinous carcinoma of the skin (Mendoza). Electron-microscopically, nuclei of the tumor cells were slightly folded. There were a few secretory granules and many secretory vacuoles in cytoplasm, but no findings of decapitation secretion. Like some other authors' reports, our data suggest that this tumor has an eccrine gland origin. To our knowledge, this is the 12th case of mucinous carcinoma of the skin in the Japanese literature.     

Analysis of photosensitivity in Japanese cancer-bearing patients receiving photodynamic therapy with porfimer sodium (Photofrin)

A major disadvantage of a new cancer treatment, porfimer sodium (Photofrin)-mediated photodynamic therapy (PF-PDT), is photosensitivity for several weeks after cessation of the treatment. To characterize persistent sensitivity to visible light following PF-PDT, phototestings were performed in 59 Japanese cancer-bearing patients with a slide projector lamp 3 weeks or more after the treatment. The duration of photosensitivity was analyzed in relation to the patients' sex, skin phototype (SPT), site of tumor and liver function. There was no correlation of the photosensitivity persistency with the site of cancers and the function of liver. However, female subjects needed significantly longer recovery periods than male subjects from potential photosensitivity after PF-PDT. Patients with SPT2 were significantly more sensitive than patients with SPT3 and 4. These results suggest that the prolonged photosensitivity occurs after PF-PDT especially in female patients and in cases with a lighter SPT. Such patients should be carefully followed up for post-PDT photosensitivity.