Effects of glycyrrhizin on immune-mediated cytotoxicity

Intravenous administration of glycyrrhizin is known to decrease elevated plasma transaminase levels in patients with chronic viral hepatitis, in which immune-mediated cytotoxicity by cytotoxic T lymphocytes and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α is considered to play an important pathogenic role. However, the immunological interpretation of the transaminase-lowering action of glycyrrhizin is not known. Studies were performed to elucidate this action immunologically by assessing the effects of glycyrrhizin on immune-mediated cytotoxicity using an antigen-specific murine CD4⁺ T hybridoma line, which exhibits cytotoxicity against antigen-presenting cells after stimulation with specific antigen, and a murine TNF-α-sensitive fibroblast line. Glycyrrhizin inhibited the cytotoxic activity of the T cells against antigen-presenting cells and also suppressed TNF-α-induced cytotoxicity in the TNF-α-sensitive cell line in vitro. These results suggest that the decrease of elevated transaminase levels by glycyrrhizin in patients with chronic viral hepatitis is mediated in part by inhibition of immune-mediated cytotoxicity against hepatocytes.     

Prognosis and pathological characteristics of five children with non-Shiga toxin-mediated hemolytic uremic syndrome

BACKGROUND: The three major signs of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) are hemolytic anemia, thrombopenia and acute renal failure. HUS is classified into Shiga toxin-mediated HUS (Stx-HUS) and non-Shiga toxin-mediated HUS (nStx-HUS). The prognosis of nStx-HUS is reported to be less favorable than that of Stx-HUS. Although the association between the prognosis and pathological characteristics of HUS have been reported such that the prognosis was considered to be poor for thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) with predominant arterial involvement (arterial TMA), good for TMA with predominant glomerular involvement (glomerular TMA) and dependent on the extent of necrosis in cases of renal cortical necrosis, it is not yet clear whether pathological findings are also related to the renal prognosis of nStx-HUS cases. Therefore the purpose of the present paper was to analyze renal biopsy findings and prognosis for five children with nStx-HUS. METHODS: Clinical records of five cases of nStx-HUS among 74 cases of diagnosed HUS were reviewed, and information and data were summarized. RESULTS: Histological examination of the kidney led to the diagnosis of arterial TMA in three cases, and glomerular TMA and severe renal cortical necrosis in one case each. Analysis of the relationship between renal histological findings and the prognosis found that three patients with arterial TMA and one patient with severe renal cortical necrosis later developed end-stage renal failure while one patient with glomerular TMA has continued to show normal renal function. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that pathological findings are closely related to the prognosis in cases of nStx-HUS.     

The microbial flora from root canals and periodontal pockets of non-vital teeth associated with advanced periodontitis

Microflora from root canals and periodontal pockets of periodontally affected teeth were compared in order to elucidate the as yet unknown relationship between pulpal and periodontal disease. Caries-free teeth affected with advanced periodontitis and diagnosed as clinically dead by electric pulp testing were selected. The root canals and periodontal pockets were sampled, and the bacterial flora examined by both culture and interference microscopy. The results indicated that the aerobe/anaerobe ratio in the periodontal pocket was 0.23, while it was 0.0022 in the root canal, the large predominance of obligate anaerobes reflecting the anaerobic environment found in the root canal. Morphological classification obtained from interference microscopy showed similar proportions of morphotypes in the two sites. Results of anaerobic culture demonstrated a significantly higher rate of detection of facultative Streptococcus bacteria in the periodontal pocket than in the root canal. The predominant bacterial species common to both regions were Streptococcus, Peptostreptococcus, Eubacterium, Bacteroides, and Fusobacterium for obligate anaerobes. As for facultative anaerobes, Actinomyces and Streptococcus were detected predominantly in the periodontal pocket. The occurrence of micro-organisms common to both sites in this study suggests that the periodontal pocket may be a possible source of root canal infections.     

Types of human papillomavirus isolated from Japanese patients with epidermodysplasia verruciformis

Virological studies were performed on 12 patients with epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV). Three types of lesions were observed: red plaques, pityriasis versicolor (PV)-like macules and plane warts. Human papillomavirus (HPV) 14, 20 and 21 were isolated from the plaques, HPV 3, 14 and 38 from flat warts and HPV 5, 12, 17, 20 and 38 from PV-like lesions. No clear relationship could be established between the different lesions and the types of HPV. Types 17 and 20 have been isolated most frequently from Japanese EV patients and HPV 5, frequently detected in other countries, is less common, whereas HPV 8 has not been isolated. Skin cancers occurred in six of the cases (50%) and all had benign lesions that were PV-like. At least one type of HPV 5, 17 or 20 could be isolated from these benign lesions and HPV 17 or 20 detected in the cancers. These three types of HPV in EV patients appear to be involved in the malignant transformation.     

"Beak"-Plasty: A New Effective Modification of Z-Plasty

BACKGROUND: Because the "lateral limbs" resulting from conventional Z-plasty form a steep angle against the relaxation skin tension line (RSTL), they often develop hypertrophic change, whereas the "central limbs" become inconspicuous after being realigned parallel to the RSTL. OBJECTIVE: To alleviate the above-mentioned hypertrophic change of the lateral limbs, we modified the conventional Z-plasty and invented a new technique. Because the shape of the flap resembles a bird's beak, we call the technique "beak-plasty." The purpose of this study is to present the new technique. METHODS: The technique is described and effectiveness of the technique is reviewed on 21 patients. In particular, three representative cases are presented with photographs. RESULTS: In all patients, the lateral limbs of the flaps did not become hypertrophic after a minimum follow-up period of 9 months. CONCLUSIONS: Our technique can effectively reduce Z-plasty's risk of postoperative hypertrophy in the lateral limb. Therefore, it can make the scar less conspicuous than in conventional Z-plasty. For this advantage, we recommend our technique as an effective armament for scar revision. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.     

Development of a Short Version of the New Brief Job Stress Questionnaire

This study was aimed to investigate the test-retest reliability and validity of a short version of the New Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (New BJSQ) whose scales have one item selected from a standard version. Based on the results from an anonymous web-based questionnaire of occupational health staffs and personnel/labor staffs, we selected higher-priority scales from the standard version. After selecting one item with highest item-total correlation coefficient from each scale, a 23-item questionnaire was developed. A nationally representative survey was administered to Japanese employees (n=1,633) to examine test-retest reliability and validity. Most scales (or items) showed modest but adequate levels of test-retest reliability (r>0.50). Furthermore, job demands and job resources scales (or items) were associated with mental and physical stress reactions while job resources scales (or items) were also associated with positive outcomes. These findings provided a piece of evidence that the short version of the New BJSQ is reliable and valid.     

Transient dermatomyositis complicated with interstitial pneumonia

We experienced a case of transient dermatomyositis with interstitial pneumonia, which was diagnosed on the basis of clinical manifestation and histology. The patient's symptoms, including both dermatomyositis and interstitial pneumonia, improved without pharmacological treatment.     

Treatment of childhood IgA nephropathy

Summary: Knowledge concerning childhood IgA nephropathy has expanded greatly in the last 10 years, and its importance as the major form of glomerulonephritis and major contributor to the end-stage renal disease is becoming apparent in children. IgA nephropathy is a slow progressive glomerular disease. Once renal function impairment develops, eventual progression to uraemia is inevitable, therefore a prophylactic approach to the progression of IgA nephropathy, based on an arbitrary period of therapy early in the course of disease in children with IgA nephropathy, warrants serious consideration and investigation. Our recent controlled trial in children with severe glomerular lesions based on renal biopsy demonstrates that 2 year prednisolone therapy combined with azathioprine, dipyridamole and heparin-warfarin benefits those with clinical evidence of disease of relatively short duration. the development of successful therapy during childhood will offer the potential to reduce the high morbidity and mortality associated with this disease in adults.