Urinary bladder carcinoma producing granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF): A case report with immunohistochemistry

A rare case of urinary bladder carcinoma with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) production was reported. In an 83-year-old female, marked neutrophilia in the peripheral blood decreased from 132,500/mm³ to 3,300/mm³ after tumour resection. The tumour was a transitional cell carcinoma. The serum G-CSF level reduced from 238 pg/ml pre-operatively to normal (60 pg/ml) after the operation. Immunohistochemical investigation of the resected tumour with monoclonal antibody specific for G-CSF revealed positive staining in the carcinoma cells, confirming G-CSF secretion.     

Validity of Electrode Placement at Fpz to Detect Alpha Wave

Abstract: The possibility on placing electrodes at Fpz-A₂ instead of C₃-A₂ was investigated to obtain a more stable configuration avoiding obstruction by the hair. Our original system of alpha wave detection by a microcomputer was used, and a total of 22 all-night hypnograms of five healthy young students waa recorded. Pearson's moment correlation coefficients of alpha wave % between the two positions were 0.780–0.948. Except for one subject, alpha wave % taken at Fpz-A₂ tended to be 3–5% lower than that at C₃-A₂. The above analysis indicates that using EEG electrode position of Fpz-A₂ is valid and useful as a stable electrode configuration for a long-time monitoring.     

Cerebral oxygenation changes in response to post-hemodialysis standing

Journal of Artificial Organs - Few reports have examined the association between changes in cerebral oxygenation and clinical factors, including blood pressure (BP), upon standing after...     

Relationship between self-rating and polygraphic sleep parameters — analysis of compiled data from 12 young Japanese adults —

An examination of the relationship of the self-rating sleep score to polygraphic sleep parameters was conducted. The self-rating sleep questionnaire, OSA, includes five sleep quality factors: sleepiness (Fl), sleep maintenance without interruption (F2), worry about daily life or poor emotional condition (F3), integrated or perceived sleep feeling (F4) and sleep initiation or induction (F5). Polygraphic sleep parameters including each sleep stage in minutes were used. If intercorrelation coefficients exceeded 0.8, only one of the related parameters was selected for multivariate analysis. Twelve male students slept a total of 88 nights, among which the first night was not included, in an experimental room. When absolute values of Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient of not less than 0.4 were tentatively selected, the following pairs were extracted: F2 score and S1 (-0.423) or S3+S4 (0.409), F5 score and sleep latency (-0.439). Deeper sleep was closely associated with sleep maintenance without interruption. Agreement between self-rating and a polygraphic sleep parameter was recognized between the F5 score and sleep latency. Each OSA factor score was predicted by other polygraphic sleep parameters using multiple regression analysis. MT significantly contributed to the Fl, F3 and F4 scores. The number of stage shifts per night significantly contributed to the Fl and F3 scores, and the number of sleep spindles significantly contributed to the F5 score. Though prediction of sleep quality by polygraphic sleep parameters is limited, the association between concrete subjective and objective sleep parameters was clarified as mentioned above, and their practical meaning was partially elucidated.     

Ultrasound biomicroscopic analysis of the effect of pilocarpine on the anterior chamber angle

Background: This study was carried out to determine the effects of pilocarpine on the anterior chamber angle in healthy volunteers. Methods: We measured changes in anterior chamber depth (ACD), trabecular-iris angle (TIA), angle opening distance at 250 and 500 m from the scleral spur (AOD250 and AOD500), and iris thickness using ultrasound biomicroscopy in 48 eyes of 48 normal volunteers (ages 18–57 years, mean 34.8 years) before and 1 h after instillation of 2% pilocarpine. Results: Pilocarpine altered the TIA by –18.6° to + 10.5° (mean –4.16°), and change in the TIA increased significantly and linearly in relation with decrease in the pretreatment TIA (r = 0.929). Pilocarpine altered AOD250 change by –136 to +94 m (mean –38 m) and AOD500 by –151 to +157 m (mean –42 m); changes in the AOD250 and AOD500 were significantly correlated to the pretreatment AOD250 and AOD500 values, respectively (r = 0.923 andr = 0.896, respectively). The pilocarpine-induced change in the ACD showed a linear relationship to the pretreatment ACD (r = 0.887). The changes in the TIA, AOD250 and AOD500 showed greater increases in association with lower pretreatment ACD (r = 0.848,r = 0.891,r = 0.842) and smaller change in the ACD (r = 0.834,r = 0.839,r = 0.812). Conclusions: The response of the anterior chamber angle to pilocarpine, narrowing or widening, depended on its pretreatment state. The ability to predict the pilocarpine-induced change in the angle before the instillation of pilocarpine would be helpful in treating patients with glaucoma.     

Retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury attenuated by blocking of adhesion molecules of vascular endothelium

PURPOSE: To evaluate quantitatively the effects of blocking of adhesion molecules (P-selectin or intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1]) on leukocyte dynamics in the retinal microcirculation in vivo during ischemia-reperfusion injury and the therapeutic efficacy of the blocking of adhesion molecules on retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS: Retinal ischemia was induced for 60 minutes in anesthetized pigmented rats by temporary ligation of the optic nerve. P-selectin or ICAM-1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) was administered at 5 minutes before reperfusion. At 4, 12, and 24 hours after onset of reperfusion, leukocyte behavior in the retinal microcirculation was evaluated in vivo with acridine orange digital fluorography. After 7 or 14 days of reperfusion, retinal damage was evaluated histologically. RESULTS: P-selectin mAb significantly inhibited leukocyte rolling along the major retinal veins after reperfusion. Subsequently, the number of accumulated leukocytes decreased in the P-selectin-inhibited rats. ICAM-1 mAb also inhibited leukocyte accumulation during the reperfusion period in a more substantial manner than P-selectin mAb. Histologic examination demonstrated the protective effect of the blocking of P-selectin or ICAM-1. In accordance with a reduction in leukocyte accumulation, the protective effect of mAb on retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury was more substantial in ICAM-1-inhibited rats. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates the inhibitory effect of P-selectin and ICAM-1 mAb on leukocyte accumulation and subsequent tissue injury during retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.     

Quantitative analysis of diabetic macular edema after scatter laser photocoagulation with the scanning retinal thickness analyzer

PURPOSE: To define the effect of scatter laser photocoagulation on foveal retinal thickness. METHODS: A commercial scanning retinal thickness analyzer was used to measure retinal thickness. The foveal retinal thickness was measured at the central area of the fundus (0.4 x 0.4 mm). The method was applied to 20 consecutive patients (mean age, 52.4 +/-16.9 years) with diabetic retinopathy. Measurements were performed before and 6 weeks after scatter photocoagulation. Patients were examined by fluorescein angiography and slit-lamp biomicroscopy to detect macular edema. RESULTS: Mean foveal thickness before scatter photocoagulation was 187+/-45 microm, increasing to 221+/-46 microm after the treatment (P = 0.0001). The foveal thickness increased in 12 eyes (60%). Laser treatment increased macular permeability in two eyes (10%). Biomicroscopic examination revealed central macular thickening in one eye (5%). Visual acuity was reduced in four eyes (20%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that subclinical macular edema occurs after scatter laser photocoagulation. The retinal thickness analyzer is a sensitive tool for early detection of macular edema after laser treatment, because increases in retinal thickness as small as 34 microm cannot be assessed by slit-lamp biomicroscopy.     

Frequent expression of CD30 in extranodal NK/T‐cell lymphoma: Potential therapeutic target for anti‐CD30 antibody‐based therapy

Extranodal NK/T‐cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTL) is a subtype of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma with a poor prognosis. Although first‐line treatments for patients with localized ENKTL have been established, there is no gold standard treatment for patients with advanced ENKTL and refractory and/or relapsed disease. Anti‐CD30 antibody‐based therapy, including brentuximab vedotin (BV), has been shown to target malignant lymphomas with CD30 expression. In particular, this therapeutic agent has recently been suggested to be effective for Hodgkin lymphoma and mature T‐cell lymphoma. However, the efficacy of BV toward ENKTL has not yet been established. Therefore, we investigated the expression of CD30 in a large cohort to evaluate BV as a potential treatment for ENKTL. In this study, 97 Japanese patients with newly diagnosed ENKTL between January 2007 and December 2015 were enrolled. Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry were performed for the evaluation of CD30 expression. If the cut‐off value of CD30 expression is 1% or more, there were 55 positive cases (56.5%). According to the localization of lesion, the frequency of CD30 expression was significantly higher in the non‐nasal type than in the nasal type (P = .0394). No differences were observed in almost all clinical characteristics between CD30‐positive cases and CD30‐negative cases. In addition, the expression of CD30 was not a prognostic factor for either overall survival or progression‐free survival. In conclusion, frequent expression of CD30 in ENKTL suggests anti‐CD30 antibody‐based therapy may be an effective treatment.     

Alteration of Leukocyte–Endothelial Cell Interaction During Aging in Retinal Microcirculation of Hypertensive Rats

Purpose Hypertension, one of the more common chronic diseases affecting the elderly, has been reported to influence leukocyte–endothelial cell interaction. The leukocyte-mediated inflammatory process contributes to age-related changes in vessels. This study was designed to evaluate age-related changes in leukocyte–endothelial cell interaction in the hypertensive rat retina. Methods Male spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR; 1.5, 3, 6, 12, and 20 months of age) and age-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) were used. The number of accumulated leukocytes was counted in sections of flat-mounted retinal tissue. The expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and CD18 (the common β-chain of ICAM-1 ligands) was evaluated. Retinal thickness was evaluated histologically. Results The number of accumulated leukocytes and the expression of ICAM-1 and CD18 increased in the aged retina. The number of leukocytes that accumulated and the expression of CD 18 were significantly higher in the SHR group than in the WKY group (P < 0.01). In addition, retinal thickness decreased with age. Conclusion Leukocyte–endothelial cell interaction increased in the aged retina and these changes were more severe in SHR retina than in WKY retina. This increased interaction was first observed at 3 months, a relatively young age.     

Lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 is a cell-adhesion molecule involved in endotoxin-induced inflammation

Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) is a major endothelial receptor for oxidized low-density lipoprotein, and is assumed to play a proatherogenic role in atherosclerosis. LOX-1 expression is induced by inflammatory cytokines as well as by proatherogenic stimuli. LOX-1 protein binds agedapoptotic cells, activated platelets, and bacteria, suggesting that it may have diverse activities in vivo. Here, we reveal a role for LOX-1 in endotoxin-induced inflammation. In a model of endotoxemia, injection of a high dose of endotoxin into rats induced leukopenia within 1 h and death of the animals within 24 h. Preadministration of anti-LOX-1 antibody reduced the degree of leukopenia and completely rescued the animals, whereas control IgG did not. In a model of low-dose endotoxin-induced uveitis, anti-LOX-1 antibody efficiently suppressed leukocyte infiltration and protein exudation. In situ videomicroscopic analyses of leukocyte interactions with retinal veins revealed that anti-LOX-1 antibody reduced the number of rolling leukocytes and increased the velocity of rolling, suggesting that LOX-1 functions as a vascular tethering ligand. The ability of LOX-1 to capture leukocytes under physiologic shear was confirmed in an in vitro flow model. Thus, LOX-1 is an adhesion molecule involved in leukocyte recruitment and may represent an attractive target for modulation of endotoxin-induced inflammation.