Drugs against metabolic diseases as potential senotherapeutics for aging-related respiratory diseases

Recent advances in aging research have provided novel insights for the development of senotherapy, which utilizes cellular senescence as a therapeutic target. Cellular senescence is involved in the pathogenesis of various chronic diseases, including metabolic and respiratory diseases. Senotherapy is a potential therapeutic strategy for aging-related pathologies. Senotherapy can be classified into senolytics (induce cell death in senescent cells) and senomorphics (ameliorate the adverse effects of senescent cells represented by the senescence-associated secretory phenotype). Although the precise mechanism has not been elucidated, various drugs against metabolic diseases may function as senotherapeutics, which has piqued the interest of the scientific community. Cellular senescence is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which are aging-related respiratory diseases. Large-scale observational studies have reported that several drugs, such as metformin and statins, may ameliorate the progression of COPD and IPF. Recent studies have reported that drugs against metabolic diseases may exert a pharmacological effect on aging-related respiratory diseases that can be different from their original effect on metabolic diseases. However, high non-physiological concentrations are needed to determine the efficacy of these drugs under experimental conditions. Inhalation therapy may increase the local concentration of drugs in the lungs without exerting systemic adverse effects. Thus, the clinical application of drugs against metabolic diseases, especially through an inhalation treatment modality, can be a novel therapeutic approach for aging-related respiratory diseases. This review summarizes and discusses accumulating evidence on the mechanisms of aging, as well as on cellular senescence and senotherapeutics, including drugs against metabolic diseases. We propose a developmental strategy for a senotherapeutic approach for aging-related respiratory diseases with a special focus on COPD and IPF.

Involvement of Parkin-mediated mitophagy in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-related sarcopenia

BACKGROUND

Sarcopenia is characterized by the loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength and is associated with poor prognosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cigarette smoke (CS) exposure, a major cause for COPD, induces mitochondrial damage, which has been implicated in sarcopenia pathogenesis. The current study sought to examine the involvement of insufficient Parkin-mediated mitophagy, a mitochondrion-selective autophagy, in the mechanisms by which dysfunctional mitochondria accumulate with excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the development of COPD-related sarcopenia.

METHODS

The involvement of Parkin-mediated mitophagy was examined using in vitro models of myotube formation, in vivo CS-exposure model using Parkin^-/- mice, and human muscle samples from patients with COPD-related sarcopenia.

RESULTS

Cigarette smoke extract (CSE) induced myotube atrophy with concomitant 30% reduction in Parkin expression levels (P < 0.05). Parkin-mediated mitophagy regulated myotube atrophy by modulating mitochondrial damage and mitochondrial ROS production. Increased mitochondrial ROS was responsible for myotube atrophy by activating Muscle Ring Finger 1 (MuRF-1)-mediated myosin heavy chain (MHC) degradation. Parkin^-/- mice with prolonged CS exposure showed enhanced limb muscle atrophy with a 31.7% reduction in limb muscle weights (P < 0.01) and 2.3 times greater MuRF-1 expression (P < 0.01) compared with wild-type mice with concomitant accumulation of damaged mitochondria and oxidative modifications in 4HNE expression. Patients with COPD-related sarcopenia exhibited significantly reduced Parkin but increased MuRF-1 protein levels (35% lower and 2.5 times greater protein levels compared with control patients, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively) and damaged mitochondria accumulation demonstrated in muscles. Electric pulse stimulation-induced muscle contraction prevented CSE-induced MHC reduction by maintaining Parkin levels in myotubes.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, COPD-related sarcopenia can be attributed to insufficient Parkin-mediated mitophagy and increased mitochondrial ROS causing enhanced muscle atrophy through MuRF-1 activation, which may be at least partly preventable through optimal physical exercise.

Refractory Hemoptysis Caused by Severe Pulmonary Vein Stenosis after Multiple Catheter Ablations

We herein report a 48-year-old man with a history of chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) and repeated hemoptysis after radiofrequency ablation. Contrast tomography showed soft tissue thickening of the left hilar region and left pulmonary vein stenosis. We performed bronchial artery embolization, but the hemoptysis did not disappear, and AF was not controlled. We performed left lung lobectomy and maze procedures since we considered surgical removal necessary as radical treatment. After the surgery, hemoptysis and atrial fibrillation did not recur. Refractory hemoptysis after catheter ablation is rare, but occasionally occurs in patients with severe pulmonary vein stenosis.

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis treated with adalimumab

We herein report a case of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) that occurred in a man treated with adalimumab for ankylosing spondylitis (AS). A 69-year-old man with a history of ankylosing spondylitis treated by adalimumab, an anti-tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) antibody, developed cough and wheezing. Chest computed tomography showed obstruction of dilated left upper lobe bronchus by high attenuation mucus as well as central bronchiectasis. Both Aspergillus-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) and Aspergillus precipitating antibody were positive and Aspergillus fumigatus was detected in a sputum culture. According to the new diagnostic criteria, the patient was diagnosed with ABPA. His condition rapidly improved after the withdrawal of adalimumab and initiation of prednisolone and itraconazole. Anti-TNF-α antibody might cause ABPA through both aggravation of the host's T-helper 2 immunological response and anti-fungal response.

Cost-effectiveness of bronchial thermoplasty for severe asthmatic patients in Japan

Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is an interventional endoscopic treatment for severe bronchial asthma. Some studies have shown the clinical efficacy of this intervention, but its cost-effectiveness is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of BT. We collected data from the medical records of 16 Japanese patients who were treated with BT between February 2015 and April 2017, and compared asthma-related medical expenses between the year preceding and the year following BT. Four patients were Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) treatment step 4, and 12 were step 5. In 8 patients who had a successful response to BT, the annual asthma-related medical expenses decreased because of a reduction in hospitalization and emergency outpatient visits due to asthma attacks, and termination of the use of biologics. Most patients in the non-responder group had increased asthma-related medical costs postoperatively. The main reason for the increase in medical costs was the add-on treatment of biologics. BT was cost-effective in the responder group. If its effects continue for more than 10 years, BT will be a cost-effective treatment. Medical costs will be reduced if those who respond to BT can be identified prior to commencement of treatment.

Impact of emphysema on sputum culture conversion in male patients with pulmonary tuberculosis: a retrospective analysis

Background

Although cigarette smoking may have a negative impact on the clinical outcome of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), few studies have investigated the impact of smoking-associated lung diseases. Emphysema is a major pathological finding of smoking-related lung damage. We aimed to clarify the effect of emphysema on sputum culture conversion rate for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB).

Methods

We retrospectively studied 79 male patients with PTB confirmed by acid-fast bacillus smear and culture at Jikei University Daisan Hospital between January 2015 and December 2018. We investigated the sputum culture conversion rates for MTB after starting standard anti-TB treatment in patients with or without emphysema. Emphysema was defined as Goddard score ≥ 1 based on low attenuation area < − 950 Hounsfield Unit (HU) using computed tomography (CT). We also evaluated the effect on PTB-related CT findings prior to anti-TB treatment.

Results

Mycobacterial median time to culture conversion (TCC) in 38 PTB patients with emphysema was 52.0 days [interquartile range (IQR) 29.0–66.0 days], which was significantly delayed compared with that in 41 patients without emphysema (28.0 days, IQR 14.0–42.0 days) (p < 0.001, log-rank test). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that the following were associated with delayed TCC: emphysema [hazard ratio (HR): 2.43; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.18–4.97; p = 0.015), cavities (HR: 2.15; 95% CI: 1.83–3.89; p = 0.012) and baseline time to TB detection within 2 weeks (HR: 2.95; 95% CI: 1.64–5.31; p < 0.0001). Cavities and consolidation were more often identified by CT in PTB patients with than without emphysema (71.05% vs 43.90%; p = 0.015, and 84.21% vs 60.98%; p = 0.021, respectively).

Conclusions

This study suggests that emphysema poses an increased risk of delayed TCC in PTB. Emphysema detection by CT might be a useful method for prediction of the duration of PTB treatment required for sputum negative conversion.

Clinical utility of thoracoscopy in elderly tuberculous pleurisy patients under local anesthesia

INTRODUCTION

Diagnosing tuberculous pleurisy is important in Japan because it currently has a moderate tuberculosis prevalence. However, physicians often have difficulty making a diagnosis. It was reported that thoracoscopy under local anesthesia is useful for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy, but there are no reports focusing on elderly patients.

METHODS

In this study, the usefulness of thoracoscopy under local anesthesia was evaluated in elderly patients. Among 170 patients who underwent thoracoscopy under local anesthesia at our hospital during 11 years from January 2008 to December 2018, those aged 75 years or older (n = 75) were investigated retrospectively.

RESULTS

A total of 55 patients underwent thoracoscopy under local anesthesia for detailed examination of pleural effusion of unknown cause. Of these, 18 were diagnosed as tuberculous pleurisy. The median age was 82 years (range: 75-92 years). The diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy was made in 11 patients in whom Mycobacterium tuberculosis was detected and in four patients whose pathological findings indicated epithelioid granuloma accompanied by caseous necrosis. Clinical diagnosis was made in the remaining three patients based on thoracoscopic findings of the pleural cavity and a high level of adenosine deaminase in pleural fluid. No serious complications attributable to the examination were observed in any patient.

CONCLUSIONS

Thoracoscopy under local anesthesia was useful for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy in elderly patients, with useful information being also obtained for the treatment of tuberculosis.

Three different CT and FGD PET/CT findings of pulmonary involvement in methotrexate-associated lymphoproliferative disease

Lymphoproliferative disease (LPD) is one of the complications of methotrexate (MTX) therapy. In MTX-associated LPD (MTX-LPD), LPD lesions limited to the lungs are rare and show various types of opacity. A 75-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presented with myalgia. She had been taking MTX for 11 years. Chest computed tomography (CT) scans showed a nodule in the left lower lobe that had grown significantly and a new nodule in the right lower lobe. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)/positron emission tomography (PET)/CT revealed significant FDG uptake in these nodules. Transbronchial biopsy specimen showed diffusely distributed CD20-positive lymphoid cells, and we made a diagnosis of MTX-LPD. All lung lesions disappeared within months after the immediate discontinuation of MTX. We also had two other patients with MTX-LPD lung lesions that had high FDG uptake. FDG PET/CT might be a useful diagnostic tool as it may reflect disease progression and help identify separate lesions.

A case of recurrent hemoptysis caused by pulmonary actinomycosis diagnosed using transbronchial lung biopsy after bronchial artery embolism and a brief review of the literature

A 60-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of massive hemoptysis with acute respiratory failure. Since six months ago, he noticed gradual worsening of hemoptysis and was transferred to our hospital. Chest computed tomography showed a nodular lesion with cavitation in the left upper lobe and surrounding ground-glass opacification. Initially, a hemostatic agent was administered, but we eventually performed bronchial artery embolization (BAE) by ourselves due to persistent hemoptysis. After achieving good hemostasis with BAE bronchoscopy was performed, which gave a diagnosis of pulmonary actinomycosis on histopathologic examination of the transbronchial biopsy specimen without the need for lung resection.

A case of Aspergillus and Nocardia infections after bronchial thermoplasty

Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is a bronchoscopic treatment for severe asthma. A 35-year-old woman with uncontrolled severe asthma despite maximal pharmacological treatment underwent BT and started coughing after the first procedure. One month later, during the second BT procedure, there were white ulcerous lesions on the right B9 bronchus. Culture of the bronchial brushing specimen showed Aspergillus fumigatus, for which voriconazole was started for treatment. On the third BT procedure, endobronchial mucus sampling demonstrated Nocardia spp., for which trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was given for three months. Seven months after the third BT procedure, no particular endobronchial lesions were found, and no abnormal pathogens were obtained by culture. The resulting bronchial infection in this case may be attributed to the use of systemic steroids, which rendered the patient immunocompromised, and to tissue fragility that was caused by the thermal energy from the BT procedure. Culture of endobronchial mucus should be considered during BT.

Effectiveness of clarithromycin in patients with yellow nail syndrome

BACKGROUND

Yellow nail syndrome (YNS) is a rare disease characterized by the triad of thickened, slow-growing yellow nails, lymphedema, and chronic respiratory manifestations. The cause of YNS is not known; however, it is suggested to be due to a congenital lymph abnormality. Since YNS is accompanied by chronic bronchial infection in more than half of patients, we hypothesized that treatment with clarithromycin (CAM) could be effective. We therefore evaluated the effectiveness of CAM against nail discoloration and respiratory manifestation in patients with YNS.

METHODS

We conducted an observational study involving 5 patients with YNS who were treated at our institution between January 2005 and January 2016. CAM was prescribed for every patient. Patient demographic information, comorbidities, medications, chest radiographs, and clinical data such as nail color were extracted to evaluate clinical outcome.

RESULTS

Mean patient age was 71.6 years, and 2 patients (40%) were male. Four patients had sinusitis, and 2 had rheumatoid arthritis. Regarding respiratory manifestations, 4 patients had sinobronchial syndrome and 2 had pleural effusion. Nail discoloration improved in every patient after CAM treatment. Four patients also experienced improvement in their respiratory manifestations.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with YNS, the anti-inflammatory activity of macrolides might improve their systemic inflammation. This improvement could help to reduce lymphedema and promote nail growth.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Ethical approval was provided by the institutional review board of the National Center of Global Health and Medicine (NCGM-G-002143-00), in January 2017. This study is retrospectively registered for UMIN Clinical Trial Registry ( UMIN000028514 ) in August 4th, 2017.

Epidemiology of CTX-M-type extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli among older adults

To identify independent predictors for isolation of CTX-M-type extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (CTX-M E coli) in older adults (>65 years old), 87 cases with CTX-M E coli isolation were compared with matched controls without E coli isolation. Institutionalized residence, multiple comorbidities, and urinary catheter were independent predictors of CTX-M E coli among older adults.

Femoral head deformity and severity of acetabular dysplasia of the hip

Patients with acetabular dysplasia commonly undergo peri-acetabular osteotomy after skeletal maturity to reduce the risk of the late development of osteoarthritis. Several studies have suggested that deformity of the femoral head influences the long-term outcome. We radiologically examined 224 hips in 112 patients with acetabular dysplasia and early-stage osteoarthritis. There were 103 women and nine men with a mean age of 37.6 years (18 to 49). A total of 201 hips were placed in the acetabular dysplasia group and 23 in a normal group. The centre–edge angle and acetabular head index were significantly smaller (both p < 0.001), and the acetabular angle, acetabular roof angle and roundness index were significantly greater in the acetabular dysplasia group than those in the normal group (all p < 0.001). There were significant correlations between the roundness index and other parameters. Femoral head shape may be influenced by the severity of the acetabular dysplasia.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:1192–6.

COL2A1 Mutation in Spondylometaphyseal Dysplasia Algerian Type

Spondylometaphyseal dysplasia Algerian type (SMD-A) is an autosomal dominant disorder that was first reported in an Algerian family by Kozlowski et al. [Pediatr Radiol 1988;18:221-226]. Kozlowski's group reported a sporadic case in a 12-year-old Polish boy. They proposed SMD-A as a distinctive skeletal dysplasia and also suggested that a case of SMD reported by Schmidt et al. [J Pediatr 1963;63:106-112] might have had the same disorder. Afterwards, however, no additional report has emerged to date. In addition, the question whether SMD-A belongs to type II collagenopathy (a group of disorders due to a heterozygous mutation of COL2A1) has been continuously under debate. Here we report a 7-year-old Japanese boy with a heterozygous missense mutation in COL2A1, 2582G>T (Gly861Val), whose phenotype matched that of SMD-A. Our observation supports the hypothesis that SMD-A is a variant of type II collagenopathy.

Telecytology in Hokkaido Island, Japan: results of primary telecytodiagnosis of routine cases

In 1997, an Internet-based static image telepathology system was built at Sapporo National Hospital, Japan. We can exchange high-resolution microscopical images through a file transfer protocol server and discuss cytological findings and diagnosis on an electronic mailing list. We applied the system to primary telecytodiagnosis. From May 1997 to April 1999 we have made diagnoses of 614 daily cases only by looking at the video monitor images transmitted from the cytotechnologist of Wakkanai Municipal Hospital 300 km distant from Sapporo. The concordance between telecytodiagnosis and glass slide diagnosis was 88.6%. Kappa statistics for cervical smears was 0.919 and that for specimens other than uterine cervix was 0.810. The accuracy of telecytodiagnosis was 91.4%, and was not substantially different from that of the conventional mail-based cytology in a previous year. We had five cases with a severely inappropriate diagnosis in telecytology, all of which however were quickly corrected by follow-up histological or cytological specimens. With the use of an electronic mailing list the participants had quick and sufficient discussions. We conclude that telecytology is very useful for primary cytodiagnosis in regional medicine and that it may raise the accuracy of cytodiagnosis in future, if we make consistent efforts to reflect the benefits of telecytology in daily practices. This is the first report of clinical results of telecytology from Japan.

Are DNA ploidy and epidermal growth factor receptor prognostic factors for untreated ovarian cancer? A prospective study

To identify prognostic factors for untreated ovarian cancer, DNA ploidy, proliferative index (P.I.) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression were analyzed in a prospective series of 40 patients with ovarian cancer and 7 patients with borderline malignant ovarian tumor followed up for 5 years or more (median, 77 months). The frequency of aneuploid cells was 53.8% (21/39) in ovarian cancer and 14.3% (1/7) in borderline malignancy. There was no significant association between DNA ploidy and the clinicopathologic findings, in which aneuploid ovarian cancer was more common among advanced tumors. The S-phase fraction and P.I. value were higher in the patients with aneuploid tumors (p = 0.076). EGFR expression was detected in 76.9% (30/39) of ovarian cancers and 42.9% (3/7) of borderline malignant ovarian tumors, and the mean EGFR level was 5.8 +/- 12.1 (range: 0-49.5) and 28.3 +/- 71.1 (range: 0-189.4) fmol/mg protein, respectively. There was no correlation between EGFR expression and DNA ploidy, P.I., and clinicopathologic findings analyzed. The 5-year survival rate in patients with aneuploid tumors was significantly worse in patients with ovarian cancer (p = 0.0165, log-rank test). No significant relationship was shown between P.I., EGFR expression, and 5-year survival. Cox multivariate analysis showed that DNA ploidy, P.I., and EGFR expression are not associated with the risk of death (p = 0.5917, p = 0.9924, and p = 0.6840, respectively), although clinical stage shows a significant relationship (p = 0.0027). Our data showed that DNA ploidy is significantly related to the prognosis by univariate analysis, but DNA ploidy, P.I., and EGFR expression were not independent prognostic factors for the untreated ovarian cancer.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroidal dysfunctions in anorexia nervosa

There are clinical similarities between anorexia nervosa and hypothyroidism. Circulating levels of T4 and particularly T3 have been reported to be low in this eating disorder. Previous reports have, however, shown normal basal levels of serum TSH with normal or delayed responses to TRH. To assess thyroid function and the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in 21 women with anorexia nervosa, serum levels of free and total thyroid hormones, binding proteins, and TSH employing an extremely sensitive assay (detection limit = 0.02 microU/ml) were measured. Serum T4, free T4, T3, free T3, TSH, TBG and TBPA concentrations were significantly lower and rT3 levels were significantly higher in anorexia nervosa patients than in normal controls. A delayed TSH response to TRH was noted in 66% of patients, hyporesponsiveness was seen in another 24%, and a normal response in only 10%. In 10 anorexia nervosa patients studied after weight gain, T4, T3, free T3, TSH, TBG and TBPA were significantly increased, and rT3 was significantly decreased. No change in mean free T4 levels with weight gain was noted. Other parameters of hypothalamic dysfunction in anorexia nervosa have been reported and the present data suggest that apparent hypothalamic hypothyroidism occurs perhaps as an adaptation to prolonged starvation.

Effect of psychological stress on human growth hormone response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone in normal controls

Human growth hormone (hGH) responses to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) were investigated in normal subjects under psychological stress. Fifteen subjects (4 men and 11 women), whose ages ranged from 19 to 22 years, were studied. The mirror-drawing test (MDT) was performed to induce psychological stress. Plasma hGH and prolactin (PRL) were determined serially before, during and after the following tests: TRH alone (500 micrograms synthetic TRH i.v. bolus), MDT alone, and TRH with MDT. The changes in hGH concentrations with MDT alone were not significant. The hGH response to TRH alone also showed no remarkable change; however, hGH responses to TRH combined with MDT were significantly higher than the responses to TRH alone. PRL did not respond with MDT alone but responded significantly with the other two tests. Thus there was a divergence in hGH and PRL secretion to TRH and psychological stress. Significant increases in hGH secretion were observed only when TRH and psychological stress were combined as stimuli.

Paradoxical responses of plasma cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone and growth hormone to thyrotropin-releasing hormone and luteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone in anorexia nervosa patients

Abnormalities of hypothalamic-pituitary function in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) have been reported previously. Since atypical responses to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and luteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) have been observed in other disease states, hormonal responses to these hypothalamic peptides in 60 otherwise unstressed young women with anorexia nervosa were studied. Sixteen patients demonstrated a growth hormone (GH) response to TRH and 10 showed an increase in GH after LHRH. Five patients had an increase in cortisol after TRH, 2 of whom showed GH response, and 2 patients demonstrated a cortisol response to LHRH, 1 of whom had a GH response. Variable TSH responses to TRH were observed in the study but there was no correlation with the occurrence of GH or cortisol responses. GH responses to TRH and LHRH were typically not seen in the same patients, nor were they predictive of a cortisol response to the same stimulus. These data add to the evidence for an abnormal hypothalamic-pituitary regulation in AN.

[The linkage of the major histocompatibility complex to autoimmune thyroid diseases]

To investigate the association between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and development of autoimmune thyroid diseases such as Graves' disease (GD), Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), and Graves' disease patients with undetectable TSH-binding inhibitor immunoglobulin (TBII-negative GD), HLA typing was done. 1. We previously reported increased frequencies of HLA-A2 and DPB1*0501 in TBII-positive GD patients, 2. significantly increased frequencies of HLA-A2 and DPB4*0101 in patients with HT, 3. more TBII-negative GD patients having both HLA-B46 and DPB1*0202 than those having each allele alone, suggesting that these 2 alleles may play a synergistic role in controlling the susceptibility to TBII-negative GD, and 4. contrarily that the frequencies of DQA1*0102 in HT patients and of DQB1*0501 in GD patients were significantly decreased, suggesting that DQA1*0102 and DQB1*0501 might confer resistance to the development of HT and GD.

[A clinical application of laser scanning cytometer--the significance in the cytology as an additional diagnostic technique]

Laser scanning cytometer (LSC) is a new machine similar to flow cytometer but with advantages for certain clinical and research applications. LSC is a microscope based and measures cells on a slide with the position of each cell on the slide. This new technique of LSC can be utilized on extremely small specimens and enables direct correlation of all of the measured fluorescent parameters with light microscopic cytologic morphology. To date, LSC has been successfully used to perform DNA content analysis of numerous specimen types and automated analysis of fluorescence in situ hybridization specimens. In this report, we describe characteristics of LSC comparison with flow cytometry and a clinical application of LSC focused on DNA content analysis in clinical specimens with pulmonary disorders. LSC provides a number of benefits that may make it more suitable for clinical laboratories than FCM.