Current status of syphilis in pregnant women in Japan

We examined the current status of syphilis-infected pregnant Japanese women, according to the results of syphilis screening and confirmation tests of women who gave birth in Japan between October, 2015 and March, 2016. We requested 2458 obstetrical facilities to provide information of syphilis screening tests and 78.1% of them responded. Considering the response rate and the rate of implementation of confirmation tests, the number of syphilis-infected pregnant Japanese women was estimated to be 250 (1/4022) per year.     

Anatomical basis of hepatic venographic alterations in idiopathic portal hypertension

ABSTRACT— Hepatic venograms made in 40 authentic cases of idiopathic portal hypertension (Banti's syndrome) were compared with 13 normal venograms and venograms obtained in 88 cases of cirrhosis, and analyzed in the light of the pathological changes seen in 16 postmortem liver specimens. There were frequent anastomoses between hepatic vein radicles, approximation of middle-size branches to the liver surface, reduction in the angles between the main hepatic vein and its tributaries, and difficulty in opacifying portal vein branches in wedged retrograde portography. These angiographic alterations were corroborated by gross pathological findings which comprised displacement of middle-size hepatic vein branches closer to the liver surface and their approximation among themselves, and seem to be accounted for by the disappearance of liver parenchyma secondary to the peripheral portal circulatory failure.     

Long-term clinical outcomes of permanent-polymer everolimus-eluting stent implantation following rotational atherectomy for severely calcified de novo coronary lesions: Results of a 22-center study (Tokyo-MD PCI Study)

Background

Long-term clinical outcomes of permanent polymer everolimus-eluting stent (PP-EES) implantation after rotational atherectomy (RA) have not been fully evaluated. We sought to investigate the long-term clinical outcomes of PP-EES implantation after RA and assess the impact of hemodialysis on this treatment strategy.

Effects of HMGB1 on ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat heart

BACKGROUND: Coronary ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury causes cardiomyocyte necrosis in a multi-step process that includes an inflammatory reaction. A recent study has suggested that high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a late mediator of lethal sepsis and an early mediator of inflammation and necrosis following I/R injury. In the present study a neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) for HMGB1 was used to clarify the role of HMGB1 in cardiac I/R injury. METHODS AND RESULTS: Rats underwent 30 min of left coronary artery occlusion followed by 60 min reperfusion. An intravenous injection of anti-HMGB1 mAb or control IgG was administered just before reperfusion. The infarct size was enlarged in the anti-HMGB1 mAb group in comparison with the control group (p<0.05). The treatment of anti-HMGB1 mAb significantly increased the plasma troponin-T and norepinephrine (NE) content in the heart in comparison with the control (p<0.05). Moreover, the production of dihydroxyphenylglycol was reduced in the anti-HMGB1-treated group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study shows for the first time the effects of treatment with neutralizing anti-HMGB1 mAb on I/R injury in the rat heart. The findings support the novel view that I/R-induced HMGB1 may be an important factor in the modulation of interstitial NE.     

Numerical chromosomal abnormality in gastric MALT lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Background: We investigated numerical chromosomal abnormalities, using the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method, in gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBL). We also compared the histopathological findings, including the presence or absence of Helicobacter pylori infection, with the analytical results. Methods: Sixteen patients who underwent operation for malignant gastric lymphoma in our department were divided into three groups: patients with low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma (l-MALT; n = 5), those with high-grade gastric MALT lymphoma (h-MALT; n = 8), and those with DLBL (n = 3). Numerical abnormalities of chromosomes 8, 9, 12, and 17 were investigated by the FISH method, and the presence or absence of H. pylori infection was microscopically examined. Results: Numerical abnormality was observed in chromosome 12 in 11 patients (68.8%), in chromosome 8 in 10 (62.5%), and in chromosome 17 in 5 (31.3%), showing a high frequency. H. pylori infection was detected in 80% and 50% of patients with l-MALT and h-MALT, respectively, but no H. pylori infection was observed in patients with DLBL. Conclusions: A new biological characteristic of gastric MALT lymphoma was obtained, i.e., a high frequency of numerical abnormalities of chromosomes 12, 8, and 17. There was no correlation between the numerical chromosomal abnormalities and the clinicopathological findings. Received: September 5, 2001 / Accepted: February 22, 2002 Acknowledgments. We sincerely appreciate the instruction and cooperation provided by Mr. A. Furuhata, Mr. S. Nakamura, and the staff, Department of Collaborative Pathology, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan. Reprint requests to: I. Watanobe     

Involvement of central metastin in the regulation of preovulatory luteinizing hormone surge and estrous cyclicity in female rats

Ovulation is caused by a sequence of neuroendocrine events: GnRH and LH surges that are induced by positive feedback action of estrogen secreted by the mature ovarian follicles. The central mechanism of positive feedback action of estrogen on GnRH/LH secretion, however, is not fully understood yet. The present study examined whether metastin, the product of metastasis suppressor gene KiSS-1, is a central neuropeptide regulating GnRH/LH surge and then estrous cyclicity in the female rat. Metastin had a profound stimulation on LH secretion by acting on the preoptic area (POA), where most GnRH neurons projecting to the median eminence are located, because injection of metastin into the third ventricle or POA increased plasma LH concentrations in estrogen-primed ovariectomized rats. Metastin neurons were immunohistochemically found in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) to be colocalized with estrogen receptors with some fibers in the preoptic area (POA) in close apposition with GnRH neuronal cell bodies or fibers. Quantitative RT-PCR has revealed that KiSS-1 and GPR54 mRNAs were expressed in the ARC and POA, respectively. The blockade of local metastin action in the POA with a specific monoclonal antibody to rat metastin completely abolished proestrous LH surge and inhibited estrous cyclicity. Metastin-immunoreactive cell bodies in the ARC showed a marked increase and c-Fos expression in the early proestrus afternoon compared with the day of diestrus. Thus, metastin released in the POA is involved in inducing the preovulatory LH surge and regulating estrous cyclicity.     

Therapeutic action of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists targeting peritoneal macrophages in post-operative ileus

Background and Purpose

Post-operative ileus (POI) is induced by intestinal inflammation. Here, we aimed to clarify the effects of 5-HT₃ receptor antagonists against POI.

Experimental Approach

We administered three 5-HT₃ receptor antagonists, ondansetron, tropisetron and palonosetron, to a mouse model of POI induced by surgical intestinal manipulation (IM). Immunohistochemistry, intestinal transit, inflammatory mediator mRNA expression and 5-HT content were measured. In some experiments, 5-HT₃A receptor null mice were used.

Key Results

Three 5-HT₃ receptor antagonists reduced IM-induced infiltration of inflammatory CD68-positive macrophages and myeloperoxidase-stained neutrophils. Ondansetron exhibited no anti-inflammatory actions in 5-HT₃A receptor null mice. Ondansetron inhibited expression of the chemokine CCL2, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and iNOS mRNAs up-regulated by IM, and also ameliorated the delayed gastrointestinal transit. Peritoneal macrophages, but not most infiltrating monocyte-derived macrophages, expressed 5-HT₃ receptors. IM stimulation increased the 5-HT content of peritoneal lavage fluid, which up-regulated mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines in peritoneal macrophages. Immunohistochemical localization of 5-HT₃ receptors suggests that ondansetron suppressed expression of these mRNAs in activated peritoneal macrophages, adhering to the serosal region of the inflamed intestinal wall.

Conclusion and Implications

5-HT₃ receptor antagonists were anti-inflammatory, mainly targeting peritoneal macrophages expressing these receptors. They also restored the delayed gastrointestinal transit by IM. 5-HT₃ receptor antagonists should be therapeutically useful agents against POI.