Synthetic investigation on chirally pure Mannich derivatives of pseudophenylpropanolamine and their anticancer properties against HepG-2 cells with inhibition of JAK2/STAT3

In vitro and in vivo anticancer activity of compound 3a was proved as a novel blocker of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and exerts both anti-proliferative and apoptotic activities in HepG-2 cells with xenograft mice model.

Increased expression of perforin, granzyme B, and C5b-9 in villitis of unknown etiology

INTRODUCTION

Villitis of unknown etiology (VUE) is associated with fetal growth restriction. However, the underlying mechanisms of villous injury in placentas with VUE are still largely unknown. We aimed to verify whether apoptosis-related factors are increased in VUE placentas. Furthermore, we determined apoptosis of villous cells.

METHODS

Six placentas with VUE and 3 control placentas were stained using immunohistochemistry with antibodies for CD3, CD4, CD8, CD68, CD163, perforin, granzyme B, granzyme K, and C5b-9. TUNEL assay analysis was also performed with these placentas. The percentage of cells that stained positive, CD163/CD68 ratio, percentage of C5b-9 positive area, and apoptosis index were quantified and compared between the inflammatory lesions of the VUE placentas, non-VUE inflammatory lesions of the VUE placentas, and control placentas.

RESULTS

The percentages of CD3, CD4, CD8 CD68, CD163, perforin, and granzyme B positive cells were significantly higher in the inflammatory lesions of the VUE placentas (p < 0.05). The intravillous CD163/CD68 ratio was higher in the inflammatory lesions compared with the non-inflammatory lesion of the VUE placentas (p < 0.05). The percentage of granzyme K-positive cells was not significantly different between the groups. C5b-9 deposition was higher in the inflammatory lesions of the VUE placentas (p < 0.05). TUNEL-positive cells were significantly higher in the inflammatory lesions of the VUE placentas (p < 0.05).

DISCUSSION

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to assess villous injury, especially from a viewpoint of villous apoptosis in VUE placentas. An activated perforin/granzyme pathway and C5b-9 are suggested as possible mechanisms of apoptosis.

Outcome comparison of ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation with low-dose rituximab and ABO-compatible kidney transplantation: a single-center experience

BACKGROUND

The development of immunosuppressive techniques has helped overcome the ABO incompatibility barrier. However, the outcomes of ABO-incompatible (ABOi) kidney transplantation remain a controversial issue with the advent of the anti-CD20 chimeric antibody rituximab. Herein, we report the outcomes of ABOi kidney transplantation with low-dose rituximab.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between June 2006 and April 2013, 42 patients underwent living-related kidney transplantation at our hospital. The patients were divided into 2 groups: ABO-compatible (ABOc; n = 29) and ABOi kidney transplants using low-dose rituximab (100 mg/m(2)) without splenectomy (n = 13). The basic immunosuppression regimen (calcineurin inhibitor [CNI], mycophenolate mofetil [MMF], and steroids) was the same for both groups, except for the use of rituximab and therapeutic apheresis in the ABOi group. We compared post-transplantation renal function, incidents of virus infection, episodes of rejection, and graft survival between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

In our hospital, 30% of recipients received ABOi kidney transplants. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) did not differ between the groups. Rejection episodes confirmed by biopsy in the ABOc and ABOi groups were 8 (28%) and 4 (31%) patients (P = .833), acute antibody-mediated rejection was observed in 1 (3.5%) and 2 (15%) patients (P = .165), and virus infection was observed in 14 (48%) and 3 (23%) patients (P = .252), respectively. The 5-year patient survival rate was 100% in both groups, and the 5-year graft survival rates were 95% for ABOc and 100% for ABOi transplants (P = .527).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the outcomes of ABOi kidney transplantation with low-dose rituximab are similar to those of ABOc kidney transplantation. Further study is necessary to address the efficacy and safety of ABOi kidney transplantation.

Post-transplant renal function and cardiovascular events are closely associated with the aortic calcification index in renal transplant recipients

INTRODUCTION

The aortic calcification index (ACI) is reported to be closely associated with renal dysfunction and cardiovascular events; however, its implication in renal transplant recipients has not been well examined. In this study, we investigated the relationship between pretransplant ACI, ACI progression, post-transplant renal function, and post-transplant cardiovascular events in renal transplant recipients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study from June 1996 to Jan 2012 included 61 renal transplant recipients (living donors, 47; cadaveric donors, 14). The median follow-up period was 60 months. ACI was quantitatively measured on abdominal computed tomography. The relationship between age, dialysis period, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and pre- and post-transplant ACI was longitudinally evaluated. Risk factors for post-transplant ACI progression were determined by logistic regression analysis. Patient background and the incidence of post-transplant cardiovascular events were also assessed.

RESULTS

The pretransplant ACI (median 4.2%) significantly correlated with age at transplant, dialysis period, and diabetes mellitus. ACI gradually increased up to 2.8 times at 10 years after transplantation. Post-transplant eGFR significantly correlated with ACI progression in patients with chronic kidney disease of stage ≥ 3. Logistic regression analyses showed that age at transplantation, post-transplant period, cadaveric donors, and post-transplant chronic kidney disease stage 3 were risk factors for post-transplant ACI progression. The pretransplant ACI was higher (median 66%) in 3 patients who experienced post-transplant cardiovascular events.

CONCLUSIONS

ACI progression closely correlates with age and post-transplant renal function. A high pretransplant ACI is a risk factor for post-transplant cardiovascular events in renal transplant recipients.

Development of ion source for simulation of edge localized mode in divertor plasma

A helium ion beam is injected into a linear plasma device for the development of an ion beam source simulating high energy particle flux in divertor plasma. Beam current density more than 10 mA/cm(2) is extracted. Measurement of beam currents indicates that the beam is transported along the linear device and reaches to the downstream end plate.

Development of in situ energetic ion injector for magnetically confined plasmas using hydrogen storage electrode

To develop a compact ion injector made of hydrogen storage material, we investigate a plasma response for a positively biased hydrogen storage electrode in a small standard heliac device. When the bias voltage of the electrode increases, a positive potential between the electrode and the space potential on the magnetic surface emerges. The emission of hydrogen atom line also increases. To clarify the origin of the increase in emission, we designed an imaging system with sufficient temporal resolution.

Effects of roughness and temperature on low-energy hydrogen positive and negative ion reflection from silicon and carbon surfaces

Angle-resolved energy distribution functions of positive and negative hydrogen ions produced from a rough-finished Si surface under 1 keV proton irradiation have been measured. The corresponding distribution from a crystalline surface and a carbon surface are also measured for comparison. Intensities of positive and negative ions from the rough-finished Si are substantially smaller than those from crystalline Si. The angular distributions of these species are broader for rough surface than the crystalline surface. No significant temperature dependence for positive and negative ion intensities is observed for all samples in the temperature range from 300 to 400 K.

Association of a single nucleotide polymorphism in the SH2D1A intronic region with systemic lupus erythematosus

SH2D1A, also known as signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM)-associated protein (SAP), is an adaptor protein. Recently, it was reported that SAP deficient mice were protected from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this study, we postulated SH2D1A gene to be a candidate susceptibility gene for SLE and analyzed its association with SLE. A case-control association study was conducted on 5 tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SH2D1A region in 506 Japanese female SLE patients and 330 healthy female controls. The luciferase assay was performed to determine the functional role of the SNP associated with SLE. One SNP in the intron 2, rs2049995, showed association with SLE (p=0.0110, odds ratio (OR) 1.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.16-3.34, under the dominant model). The association of rs2049995 seemed to be stronger in the subset with the age of onset less than 20 years (p=0.0067, OR 2.65, 95% CI 1.28-5.46). Functional evaluation of rs2049995 showed that reporter gene activity was increased 1.9-fold for the susceptible allele compared with the resistant allele. An intronic SNP of SH2D1A is associated with SLE.

Uterine endometrial carcinoma with trophoblastic differentiation: a case report with literature review

Choriocarcinoma is categorized as either gestational or nongestational depending on its origin. Nongestational choriocarcinoma originated in the trophoblastic differentiation is a rare but an aggressive tumor. This article reports a nongestational case of a uterine endometrial carcinoma with trophoblastic differentiation. A 54-year-old woman with a history of atypical genital bleeding that underwent semi-radical hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophrectomy, and pelvic lymph nodes dissection. Pathological investigation showed that the tumor had endometrioid adenocarcinoma and choriocarcinomatous components. Although a series of multimodality treatments including craniotomy were performed, she died of aggressive lung and brain metastases one year after the primary surgery.

Salmonella ovarian abscess in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA): a case report with literature review

Salmonella ovarian abscess in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is reported here. A 33-year-old nulliparous woman with a 16-year history of RA who had been treated with corticosteroid and immunosuppressive drugs was diagnosed as having a non-typhoidal Salmonella ovarian abscess which might have been preceded by an occurrence of endometriotic cyst. Multidisciplinary therapy including surgical intervention was required to complete the eradication of infection. Although Salmonella ovarian abscess is rare, it may cause a serious complication in the ovary harboring endometriotic cyst through sustained presence of Salmonella bacteraemia.

Extravillous trophoblast cell invasion is promoted by the CD44-hyaluronic acid interaction

INTRODUCTION

Extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cell invasion plays a crucial role in establishment of successful pregnancy. CD44, a cell-surface receptor for hyaluronic acid (HA), plays a key role in HA-mediated remodeling and degradation that triggers cancer cell invasion. However, few studies have reported on the expression or functions of CD44 in human EVT cells. We hypothesized that CD44-HA interaction was involved in invasion by EVT cells.

METHODS

To test our hypothesis, we conducted in situ examinations of CD44 and HA expression in the human first-trimester placenta. We also assessed the methylation status of CD44 promoter and exon 1 regions in EVT cells. Finally, we conducted transwell cell invasion assays using EVT cell lines and EVT cells isolated from first-trimester human villous explant cultures.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

EVT cells, but not villous trophoblast cells, in the first-trimester placenta expressed CD44. HA was strongly expressed in adventitia surrounding the spiral uterine arterial walls of the decidua. The extent of demethylation of CD44 promoter and exon 1 CpG islands was increased in EVT cells compared to those of first-trimester chorionic villi (including villous trophoblast cells), suggesting that CD44 expression was, at least in part, associated with methylation status. Data from transwell cell invasion assay with siRNA knockdown of CD44 revealed that CD44 expression significantly promoted invasion by EVT cells in an HA-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS

The discovery of a CD44-HA interaction between EVT cells and the extracellular matrix contributes to our understanding of the mechanism underlying invasion by EVT cells.

Synovitis of the wrist caused by Mycobacterium florentinum

Mycobacterium florentinum is a newly identified, rare, slow-growing species of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Here, we report a case of M. florentinum-induced synovitis of the wrist in an immunocompromised Japanese patient. M. florentinum was identified by sequence analysis of the rpoB, hsp65, and 16S rRNA genes. The M. florentinum strain in this study could not be differentiated from certain M. triplex strains by the hsp65 or 16S rRNA sequences alone, because they occasionally shared more than 99 % sequence identity. The isolated M. florentinum strain was only susceptible to clarithromycin and amikacin. Initially, the patient was treated with clarithromycin, levofloxacin, and ethambutol, and then with clarithromycin, levofloxacin, and rifampicin. To our knowledge, M. florentinum-induced synovitis has not been previously reported. Our results suggest that, in addition to other well-known pathogenic NTM, the recently identified M. florentinum strain should be considered as a possible cause of synovitis. Moreover, we should be cautious when identifying M. florentinum because this strain closely resembles M. triplex in genotype.