Sequential monitoring of serum IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels in a CAEBV patient treated by plasma exchange and immunochemotherapy

We report the case of a female patient with chronic active Epstein?CBarr virus infection (CAEBV) accompanied by hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS). On admission, she presented with severe liver dysfunction and disseminated intravascular coagulation with elevation of serum IL-6, TNF-??, and IFN-?? levels. Plasma exchange (PE) followed by immunochemotherapy with prednisolone, cyclosporine A, and VP16 was performed. PE decreased serum cytokine levels dramatically and improved liver function. Following immunochemotherapy, CAEBV became inactive. Four months after discharge, however, CAEBV relapsed with HPS, and serum cytokine levels were extremely elevated again. There was no response to immunochemotherapy, and the patient died 1?day after admission. We examined the cytokines in five additional untreated-CAEBV patients and determined that they were elevated above the normal level in all patients. These results suggest that inflammatory cytokines may have roles in the development of CAEBV, and that their depletion can be an effective treatment for this disease.     

Combination therapy with single incision laparoscopic surgery and double-balloon endoscopy for small intestinal bleeding: report of three cases

The clinical introduction of double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) has brought about a revolution in the diagnosis and the treatment of diseases of the small intestine. DBE allows not only direct observation of the entire small intestine, but also interventional therapies, tissue sampling and India ink marking (tattooing). Single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) was developed from conventional laparoscopic surgery to further reduce the degree of invasiveness. SILS requires only one umbilical incision, thus resulting in almost scarless surgery. This report presents three cases of small intestinal bleeding successfully treated by SILS following tattooing under DBE. The average operative time was 67 min and average blood loss was 5 ml. All patients immediately recovered without any complications. SILS, in conjunction with presurgical tattooing by DBE for small intestinal bleeding is considered to be an ideal approach in terms of minimal surgical trauma and aesthetics.     

Chemical properties of 1,3-bis(3-methacryloxypropyl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane-methyl methacrylate copolymer

This study evaluated the chemical properties such as water sorption, water solubility and solvent resistance of a new resin material consisting of 1,3-bis(3-methacryloxypropyl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane (BMPMS) and methyl methacrylate (MMA). Water sorption was evaluated by immersing the specimens in water at 37±1°C for 1 week, water solubility was evaluated by keeping the specimens in a desiccator under dry conditions at 37±1°C until the weight became constant, and solvent resistance was evaluated by immersing the specimens in acetone for 1 week and measuring the dissolved weight of acetone volatilized from those liquids. The water sorption and solvent resistance of the new resin were improved with increasing amount of BMPMS, whereas the water solubility remained the same value and did not depend on the amount of BMPMS.