Human herpesvirus-6-associated exanthema in a patient with acute lymphocytic leukaemia

We report the first case of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) associated exanthema in a patient with acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL). We analysed DNA extracted from an exanthematous lesion using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). DNA was positive for HHV-6 but negative for herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus, and cytomegalovirus. Immunohistochemical staining of the skin with monoclonal antibody against HHV-6 confirmed the infection. The possibility of HHV-6 infection should be considered when an atypical skin rash is seen in patients with ALL.     

A boy with atrophic thyroiditis of prepubertal onset,who was positive for TSH-binding inhibitor immunoglobulins

A 12 year old boy was admitted to our hospital because of short stature. From the age of 7, his growth velocity decreased and he manifested intolerance to low temperatures, hoarseness, dry skin, and slowness of thought and physical movement. On admission, his height was 129.8 cm (-3 s.d.) and his body weight was 43.2kg (-0.5 s.d.). His clinical features also included relaxation phase of tendon reflexes, periorbital puffiness and cold skin but no struma. His bone age was 9 years. His serum thyroxine (T₄), tri-iodothyronine (T₃), free T₄ and free T₃ were low, while his thyrotropin was high. He was positive for antithyroglobulin antibodies, antimicrosomal antibodies, and TSH-binding inhibitor immunoglobulins. He was diagnosed as having atrophic thyroiditis. We also determined the HLA haplotypes of his family members. His father's HLA haplotypes were A2, BW61(a) and A24, BW52(b), while his mother's haplotypes were A24, BW52(c) and A30, BW61(d). The HLA haplotypes of both the patient and his younger brother showed a and d, while the patient's elder brother's HLA haplotypes showed b and c. His family members all had normal thyroid function, but his father was positive for antimicrosomal antibodies. In summary, we describe a rare case where the onset of hypothyroidism was prepubertal, where the pathogenesis may have involved TSH-receptor blocking antibodies, and where the inheritance of the disease may have been from the paternal side of the family.     

Studies on β-turn of peptides

The effect of changing 1st and 4th amino acid residues on β-turn preference of tetrapeptide sequences was studied by use of CD spectra of the chromophoric derivatives, which have Dnp- and pNA-groups as the amino and carboxyl substituents, respectively. The effect was examined with the tetrapeptides having such sequences at the 2nd and 3rd positions as -L-Pro-L-Asn-, -L-Pro-Gly-, -L-Pro-D-Ala-, -L-Ala-D-Leu-, -L-Ala-L-Pro-, and -D-Ala-L-Pro-. The β-turn preferences estimated from the CD intensities of the bands due to exciton interaction were found to depend largely on the configurations of the 1st and 4th amino acid residues. When 1st and 2nd (or 3rd and 4th) residues had the same configuration, decreased intensity of the CD band was observed even if the internal sequence had high β-turn preference. Terminal Gly residues were favorable for the β-turn conformation in many of the tetrapeptide sequences examined.     

Maximum Ventricular Dyssynchrony Predicts Clinical Improvement and Reverse Remodeling during Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Background: Tissue synchronization imaging (TSI) and tissue tracking imaging (TTI) might facilitate the evaluation of ventricular dyssynchrony.
Methods: In 22 patients, TSI and TTI were performed before and <1 month after onset of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). With TSI guidance, maximum left ventricular (LV) intraventricular conduction delay (IVCDmax) was the greatest difference in time-to-peak velocity between septum and lateral wall. IVCD between the basal septum and lateral wall (IVCDbase) was also measured. Using TTI, the mean peak myocardial displacement of the basal septal and lateral walls (PMDbase), and the temporal coefficient of variation of the PMD in six LV regions (CV-PMDLV) were measured. The patients were divided into responders (whose LV end-systolic volume decreased by ≥15% during a 27 ± 9 months follow-up) and nonresponders.
Results: Before CRT, IVCDbase was similar in both groups, and remained unchanged within the 1st month of CRT in both groups. However, before CRT, IVCDmax was greater in responders than in nonresponders (P < 0.05), and decreased only in the responders during CRT (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in PMDbase or CV-PMDLV between the two groups, before or during CRT.
Conclusions: TSI was useful to measure IVCDmax. A greater IVCDmax before CRT that decreased shortly after onset of CRT may predict long-term clinical improvement in CRT recipients.     

能谱CT单能量模式与传统单电压扫描模式的相同CT值:体模研究

目的寻找能谱CT(GSI)显示不同碘浓度体模CT值与传统的单电压扫描(TPXI)相同时的单能量值(MEI)。方法应用聚丙烯材料容器型体模装载5、10、15和20 mg I/ml的碘对比剂,分别在空气背景及软组织背景下应用相同放射剂量的GSI扫描及TPXI扫描,TPXI扫描时分别采用80、100、120和140 kVp各采集一遍数据,两种扫描方式使用相同的转速(0.8 s)及Pitch值(0.984)对比剂对应TPXI扫描相同CT值的MEI。结果在TPXI不同的能量80、100、120和140kV下,MEI对应相同碘浓度CT值在空气背景下为52±1.0、58±1.3、62±1.4和66±1.3 keV;在软组织背景下为53±0.8、59±1.0、64±1.0和68±1.0 keV。结论 MEI在不同碘浓度时不同背景下均与TPXI各自kVp有良好的对应关系。     

Human herpesvirus-6-associated exanthema in a patient with acute lymphocytic leukaemia

We report the first case of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) associated exanthema in a patient with acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL). We analysed DNA extracted from an exanthematous lesion using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). DNA was positive for HHV-6 but negative for herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus, and cytomegalovirus. Immunohistochemical staining of the skin with monoclonal antibody against HHV-6 confirmed the infection. The possibility of HHV-6 infection should be considered when an atypical skin rash is seen in patients with ALL.