The CCR5 (−2135C/T) Polymorphism may be Associated with the Development of Kawasaki Disease in Korean Children

Background  Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute vasculitis syndrome of unknown etiology that frequently affects small to medium size arteries. C-C chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) is a chemokine receptor that binds C-C chemokines. This study investigated the association of the CCR5 (−2135C/T) polymorphism with KD in Korean children. Methods  The study population consisted 189 Korean children with KD and 194 Korean children with congenital heart disease (CHD). CCR5 (−2135C/T) polymorphism genotypes were determined using the single-base extension method. Results  The allele frequencies of the CCR5 (−2135C/T) polymorphism differed significantly between CHD children and KD children (−2135T/T, 16.75% vs. 30.05%, aOR 2.14, 95% CI 1.31–3.51). The tested laboratory parameters differed significantly between the KD and CHD groups. The development of coronary artery aneurysm in KD patients was not associated with the CCR5 polymorphism. Conclusions  Our findings suggest that the T allele at the CCR5 (−2135C/T) polymorphism might be associated with the development of KD in Korean children but does not appear to be associated with the development of coronary artery aneurysm.     

Renal oncocytomas with 11q13 rearrangements: cytogenetic, molecular, and immunohistochemical analysis of cyclin D1

Two groups of renal oncocytomas have been cytogenetically defined by the loss of one or both of chromosomes Y and 1 or by structural rearrangement involving 11q12~q13. We report five renal oncocytomas with structural chromosomal rearrangements involving 11q13 with previously unreported partner chromosomes (namely, 1, 6, and 7). For two of the five cases, a t(6;11)(p21;q13) translocation was revealed; the others had t(1;11)(p13;q13), t(7;11)(q11.2;q13), and t(5;11)(q35; q13). Fluorescence in situ hybridization confirmed translocation of CCND1 at 11q13 to partner chromosomes 5, 6, and 7. Overexpression of cyclin D1, the protein product of CCND1, was detected in three of the five cases (60%) by means of immunohistochemical staining of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor sections. In three cases for which fresh tissue was available, Southern blot analysis using the MDL-5 probe for the BCL1 breakpoint did not reveal rearrangement of BCL1. In addition, six consecutive renal oncocytomas diagnosed at our institution between 1999 and 2002 whose karyotypes did not show 11q13 translocations were all negative for cyclin D1 overexpression under immunohistochemical analysis. The findings of CCND1 rearrangement with FISH and correlation with cyclin D1 overexpression under immunohistochemical analysis suggest that cyclin D1 alterations play a role in the subset of renal oncocytomas with 11q translocations, although other genes may also be involved.     

Treatment Outcomes of Intravesical Botulinum Toxin A Injections on Patients with Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome

Botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) is effective in reducing bladder hypersensitivity and increasing capacity through the effects of anti-inflammation in the bladder urothelium; however, studies on the treatment outcome of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) are lacking. We investigated the treatment outcome in IC/BPS patients receiving intravesical BoNT-A injections. This retrospective study included IC/BPS patients who had 100U BoNT-A intravesical injections in the past 20 years. The treatment outcomes at 6 months following the BoNT-A treatment were evaluated using the global response assessment (GRA) scale. The treatment outcomes according to the GRA scale include clinical symptoms, urodynamic parameters, cystoscopic characteristics, and urinary biomarkers, and it was these predictive factors for achieving satisfactory outcomes which were investigated. Among the 220 enrolled patients (180 women, 40 men) receiving BoNT-A injections, only 87 (40%) had significantly satisfactory treatment outcomes. The satisfactory group showed significantly larger voided volumes, and lower levels of both the urinary inflammatory protein MCP-1 and the oxidative stress biomarker 8-isoprostane in comparison to the unsatisfactory group. The IC severity and detrusor pressure are predictive factors of BoNT-A treatment outcomes. IC/BPS patients with less bladder inflammation showed satisfactory outcomes with intravesical BoNT-A injections. Patients with severe bladder inflammation might require more intravesical BoNT-A injections to achieve a satisfactory outcome.     

高渗制备法对吗啡红细胞载体生成数及其血红蛋白含量的影响

目的 :了解高渗法制备过程中渗透压变化对吗啡红细胞载体生成数及其血红蛋白 (Hb)含量的影响。方法 :采用冰点渗透压仪测定高渗法制备吗啡红细胞载体过程中的渗透压变化 ,利用自动化血细胞分析仪、氰化高铁法、显微镜等仪器及技术 ,对制备过程中Hb释出量、红细胞计数及其显微图像等进行研究。结果 :高渗法制备过程中环境的最低渗透压为 382 1± 2 2 7mOsmol/L ;载体形成前后红细胞计数的变化无统计学意义 (P >0 0 5 ) ;红细胞经高渗法制备成吗啡载体后 ,Hb释出百分率为 (38 6± 2 8) % ;显微图像上高渗液处理的红细胞中有大量圆形空泡。结论 :高渗法制备中渗透压对吗啡红细胞载体的生成数无影响 ,但可导致红细胞中血红蛋白的大量释出 ,此现象可能与高渗糖处理后红细胞膜通透性发生了改变有关。     

Methanol Adsorption and Reaction on Samaria Thin Films on Pt(111)

We investigated the adsorption and reaction of methanol on continuous and discontinuous films of samarium oxide (SmO_x) grown on Pt(111) in ultrahigh vacuum. The methanol decomposition was studied by temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS), while structural changes of the oxide surface were monitored by low-energy electron diffraction (LEED). Methanol dehydrogenates to adsorbed methoxy species on both the continuous and discontinuous SmO_x films, eventually leading to the desorption of CO and H₂ which desorbs at temperatures in the range 400–600 K. Small quantities of CO₂ are also detected mainly on as-prepared Sm₂O₃ thin films, but the production of CO₂ is limited during repeated TPD runs. The discontinuous film exhibits the highest reactivity compared to the continuous film and the Pt(111) substrate. The reactivity of methanol on reduced and reoxidized films was also investigated, revealing how SmO_x structures influence the chemical behavior. Over repeated TPD experiments, a SmO_x structural/chemical equilibrium condition is found which can be approached either from oxidized or reduced films. We also observed hydrogen absence in TPD which indicates that hydrogen is stored either in SmO_x films or as OH groups on the SmO_x surfaces.     

Selective Laser Melting of Maraging Steel Using Synchronized Three-Spot Scanning Strategies

The selective laser melting (SLM) process, a kind of metal additive manufacturing method, can produce parts with complex geometries that cannot be easily manufactured using material removal processes. With increasing industrial applications, there are still issues such as part quality and productivity that need to be resolved. In this study, maraging steel parts fabricated by synchronized three-spot scanning strategies, i.e., lateral spatial (LS) and spatial inline (SiL), are firstly presented. The LS and SiL represent the three-spot offset direction is perpendicular and parallel to the scanning direction, respectively. A laboratory SLM machine equipped with a fiber laser and three-spot module is used to fabricate the maraging steel parts with two scanning strategies, i.e., LS and SiL. The influence of these scanning strategies on the surface roughness, relative density, hardness, molten pool shapes, and microstructures are investigated. The relative density (~99.02%) and surface hardness (~34.0 HRC) are experimentally found to be higher than the SiL by the LS scanning strategy.     

Use of the haematopoietic progenitor cell parameter in optimizing timing of peripheral blood stem cell harvest

Background and objectives  Timing of peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) harvest is typically based on quantification of peripheral blood (PB) CD34+ cells. CD34 enumeration is expensive, requires expertise and takes a minimum of 1–2 h to perform. The Sysmex XE2100 is an automated haematology analyser that can rapidly and inexpensively identify haematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) populations in PB. The aim of this study was to examine if HPC can be used to optimize timing of PBSC harvest.
Materials and methods  White blood cell (WBC), HPC and CD34 counts were determined in a total of 60 mobilized donors. Data were analysed to examine the utility of WBC and HPC counts in predicting preharvest CD34+ counts.
Results  In adults presenting for autologous collection, a PB HPC threshold of > 30/µl predicts a preharvest CD34+ count of > 20/µl with sensitivity of 86% and positive predictive value (PPV) of 100%. Among paediatric patients with a diagnosis of neuroblastoma, an HPC threshold of > 16/µl yielded sensitivity and PPV of 100%, while in children with other diagnoses, an HPC cut-off of > 44/µl yielded sensitivity and PPV of 67% and 100%, respectively. Eighty per cent of adequately mobilized allogeneic donors were identified using an HPC threshold > 15/µl, with a PPV of 100%. PB WBC can also aid in predicting CD34 counts in most patient groups, albeit with lower sensitivity than HPC.
Conclusion  By virtue of being a sensitive and accurate predictor of preharvest CD34+ counts, our data support the use of the HPC parameter in optimizing the timing of PBSC harvest.     

Loss of cell invasiveness through PKC‐mediated syndecan‐1 downregulation in melanoma cells under anchorage independency

Anchorage‐independent survival is one of the key features for malignant tumor cells. Whether specific gene alterations contributed by anchorage independency would further affect metastatic phenotypes of melanoma cells was unclear. We adapted suspension culture of melanoma cells to establish anchorage independency. The suspended melanoma cells lost their invasive abilities in vitro. Specific loss of laminin‐binding ability in suspended melanoma cells was observed, which was correlated with downregulation of syndecan‐1 as revealed by microarray and validated by qPCR and Western blot. Modulation of syndecan‐1 expression level affected laminin binding, transwell migration and matrix metalloproteinase‐2 secretion in melanoma cells. SDC1 expression and transwell migration were correlated with activity or level of protein kinase Cδ as evidence by specific inhibitors and shRNA transfection. In this study, we compared metastatic phenotypes and gene expressions of adherent and suspended melanoma cells. The anchorage independency led to protein kinase Cδ‐mediated syndecan‐1 downregulation, which contributed to loss of laminin‐binding ability, reduced metalloproteinase‐2 secretion and loss of invasiveness.     

Vascular fibrinoid necrosis in the urinary bladder of ketamine abusers: A new finding that may provide a clue to the pathogenesis of ketamine‐induced vesicopathy

Two 31‐year‐old women who had abused ketamine, 1 for 8 years and 1 for 5 years, presented with ketamine‐induced vesicopathy with urinary frequency, decreased bladder capacity, and detrusor overactivity. An enterocystoplasty was performed in both cases. The pathology of the urinary bladders in both women showed ulcerative cystitis and fibrinoid necrosis of vessels; the latter was confirmed by Masson trichrome staining. Fibrinoid necrosis of vessels is a kind of immune complex‐mediated vasculitis that induces the release of inflammatory mediators, with subsequent thrombosis, ischemic injury, and eventual tissue necrosis in localized areas, the so‐called Arthus reaction. The new finding of fibrinoid necrosis in the urinary bladders of ketamine abusers may provide a new clue to the pathogenesis of ketamine‐induced vesicopathy.