Graft-infiltrating host dendritic cells play a key role in organ transplant rejection

Successful engraftment of organ transplants has traditionally relied on preventing the activation of recipient (host) T cells. Once T-cell activation has occurred, however, stalling the rejection process becomes increasingly difficult, leading to graft failure. Here we demonstrate that graft-infiltrating, recipient (host) dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in driving the rejection of transplanted organs by activated (effector) T cells. We show that donor DCs that accompany heart or kidney grafts are rapidly replaced by recipient DCs. The DCs originate from non-classical monocytes and form stable, cognate interactions with effector T cells in the graft. Eliminating recipient DCs reduces the proliferation and survival of graft-infiltrating T cells and abrogates ongoing rejection or rejection mediated by transferred effector T cells. Therefore, host DCs that infiltrate transplanted organs sustain the alloimmune response after T-cell activation has already occurred. Targeting these cells provides a means for preventing or treating rejection.

Age-adjusted glycated albumin accurately reflects blood glucose in patients with neonatal diabetes mellitus: comparison with calculated glycated albumin determined by past blood glucose concentrations

Background

Glycated albumin is a useful glycaemic control indicator for neonatal diabetes mellitus. However, glycated albumin concentrations in infants are lower than those in adults and increase in an age-dependent manner. Based on our investigation of non-diabetic subjects, we proposed the possibility that the reference range for adults may be used regardless of age, provided that age-adjusted glycated albumin is employed. In the present study, we evaluate the usefulness of age-adjusted glycated albumin in neonatal diabetes mellitus patients.

Methods

Six neonatal diabetes mellitus patients (four patients with permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus and two patients with transient neonatal diabetes mellitus) were included. Measured glycated albumin or age-adjusted glycated albumin was compared to calculated glycated albumin, which was determined using calculation formulae we had reported based on past blood glucose over the 50 days before measurement of glycated albumin.

Results

Measured glycated albumin was significantly lower than calculated glycated albumin (20.5 ± 4.9% versus 28.2 ± 6.1%; p < 0.0001), whereas age-adjusted glycated albumin was equivalent to calculated glycated albumin, showing no significant difference (27.5 ± 6.8% versus 28.2 ± 6.1%). Measured glycated albumin concentrations in patients with transient neonatal diabetes mellitus in remission were lower than the reference range for adults, whereas age-adjusted glycated albumin concentrations were within the reference range for adults.

Conclusion

We demonstrated that age-adjusted glycated albumin concentrations were consistent with calculated glycated albumin. Age-adjusted glycated albumin is therefore a useful glycaemic control indicator for neonatal diabetes mellitus patients.

Relationships between Paddy Soil Radiocesium Interception Potentials and Physicochemical Properties in Fukushima, Japan

The radiocesium interception potential (RIP) of bulk soil (RIP) can reliably be used to predict the magnitude of soil-to-plant radiocesium transfer. There has been some controversy about which soil properties control the RIP, although the RIP is theoretically proportional to the amount of frayed edge sites in micaceous clay minerals. The RIP was determined for 97 paddy soils in three regions (Hama-dori, Naka-dori, and Aizu) in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, and the relationships between selected physicochemical properties and the RIP were analyzed. The mean (± standard deviation) of the RIP for the 97 soils was 1.67 (±0.87) mol kg, and the range was 0.34 to 5.36 mol kg. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the RIP positively correlated best ( < 0.01) with the clay fraction K content as a mass fraction of the bulk soil (clay-K) and negatively correlated with the total C content and the phosphate absorption coefficient ( < 0.05). Therefore, clay-K, an indicator of the amount of micaceous clay minerals in a soil, was confirmed as being useful for estimating the magnitude of the RIP for paddy soils in Fukushima. The RIP was invariably low if either the total C content exceeded 6.0% or the phosphate absorption coefficient exceeded 1500 mg kg, suggesting that these parameters could be useful for screening soils with particularly low RIP values.

The circadian clock functions as a potent regulator of allergic reaction

Symptoms and laboratory parameters of allergic diseases exhibit prominent ~24-h variations. For instance, in most allergic rhinitis patients, symptoms worsen overnight or early in the morning. Accordingly, there are benefits to nighttime dosing of anti-allergy medications in such patients. Although the circadian pathophysiology of allergic diseases is well documented, the biological basis of this phenomenon remains poorly understood. Recent studies have begun to reveal that the internal timekeeping system termed the circadian clock plays a key role in temporal regulation of allergic reaction, and may therefore underlie the circadian pathophysiology of allergic diseases. Here, we review new knowledge that highlights the emerging role of the circadian clock as a potent regulator of allergic reactions. Given the strong influence of circadian rhythms on allergic diseases, we believe that research on how the time of day impacts allergic reaction which we may call 'chronoallergology' will provide new insight into previously unknown aspects of the biology of allergies. Such knowledge should facilitate novel strategies for prevention and treatment of these diseases.

Positive association between serum thymic stromal lymphopoietin and anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) has been suggested recently to play an important role in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, there is little information on serum TSLP concentrations in RA and its clinical significance. The present study investigated whether serum TSLP concentrations were affected in patients with RA. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we measured TSLP concentrations in the serum obtained from 100 patients with RA, 60 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and 34 healthy volunteers. We also investigated the correlation between serum TSLP concentrations and clinical parameters of disease activity in RA [disease activity score using 28 joint counts (DAS28)-C-reactive protein (CRP), DAS28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI]), patient's/-physician's Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), swollen joints count, tender joints count, CRP, ESR and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) concentrations]. In addition, we investigated the correlation between serum TSLP concentrations and anti-citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) and serum tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Serum TSLP levels in patients with RA were significantly higher than those in patients with OA and in healthy volunteers. Interestingly, serum TSLP concentrations were correlated significantly with ACPA titres, but not with other clinical parameters. There was a significant increase in serum TSLP concentrations in patients with RA, which was correlated positively with serum ACPA titres. These findings suggest that in patients with RA, TSLP may play a role in ACPA production by B cells.

Allergen-specific basophil reactivity exhibits daily variations in seasonal allergic rhinitis

It remains poorly understood how symptoms in allergic rhinitis are most severe during overnight or early in the morning. The circadian clock consisting of a network of several ‘clock genes’ including Clock drives daily rhythms in physiology. This study showed that allergen-induced surface CD203c expression on basophils in seasonal allergic rhinitis caused by Japanese cedar pollen exhibited a time-of-day-dependent variation associated with temporal variations in canonical circadian clock gene expression. We also found that bone-marrow-derived basophils (BM basophils) generated from wild-type mice exhibited a time-of-day-dependent variation in IgE-mediated IL-4 and histamine production, which was not observed in BM basophils generated from Clock-mutated mice. Therefore, allergen-specific basophil reactivity shows daily variations depending on the circadian clock activity in basophils, which could partly explain temporal symptomatic variations in allergic rhinitis. Additionally, circadian variations in CD203c expression should be considered for interpretation of this biomarker in clinical research.

Relationship between the radiocesium interception potential and the transfer of radiocesium from soil to soybean cultivated in 2011 in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan

The concentration of radiocesium ((134)Cs and (137)Cs) in agricultural fields around Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) was elevated after the accident in March 2011. Evaluation of soil properties that influence phytoavailability of radiocesium is important for optimal soil management to minimize radiocesium transfer to crops. In this study, soybean grain and soil samples (0-15 cm) were collected from 46 locations in Fukushima Prefecture in 2011, and (137)Cs concentrations were measured. (137)Cs concentration ranges were 11-329 Bq kg(-1)-dry in soybean grain samples, and 0.29-2.49 kBq kg(-1)-dry in soil samples. The radiocesium interception potential (RIP) values in the soil samples ranged from 0.30 to 8.61 mol kg(-1). RIP negatively correlated with total carbon content and oxalate-extractable Si and Al + 1/2 Fe in the soils, suggesting that soils rich in organic matter and poorly crystalline clays tended to have lower RIP in this region. The soil-to-plant transfer factor for (137)Cs, analyzed in relation with various soil characteristics, varied by two orders of magnitude and was significantly negatively correlated with RIP and exchangeable K concentration in soil. The results show that RIP is useful for evaluating the efficiency of radiocesium transfer from soil to plants in this region.

HbA1c can be a useful glycemic control marker for patients with neonatal diabetes mellitus older than 20 weeks of age

BACKGROUND

The accuracy of most HbA1c analysis methods is affected by the presence of increased fetal hemoglobin (HbF). The objective of this study was to investigate the age at which HbA1c measurements become useful for monitoring glycemic control in patients with neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM).

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the data of 5 NDM patients diagnosed at 38±20 days of age, who each had several available HbA1c measurements during the first year of life, with a control group of HbA1c values over the course of 1 year for 13 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Mean blood glucose (MBG) levels derived from premeal or premeal plus bedtime blood glucose measurements prior to HbA1c measurements were compared to HbA1c values.

RESULTS

The NDM patients' age at which the difference in the HbA1c/MBG ratios became not significant between the NDM patients and the T1DM patients was 21 weeks of age and over. Even after the HbA1c was adjusted for HbF, this ratio was significantly lower in the NDM patients at <21 weeks of age than in the T1DM patients.

CONCLUSIONS

HbA1c can be a useful glycemic control marker for NDM patients >20 weeks of age.

Radiocesium sorption in relation to clay mineralogy of paddy soils in Fukushima, Japan

Relationships between Radiocesium Interception Potential (RIP) and mineralogical characteristics of the clay fraction isolated from 97 paddy soils (Hama-dori, n = 25; Naka-dori, n = 36; Aizu, n = 36) in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan were investigated to clarify the mineralogical factors controlling the (137)Cs retention ability of soils (half-life 30.1 y). Of all the fission products released by the Fukushima accident, (137)Cs is the most important long-term contributor to the environmental contamination. The RIP, a quantitative index of the (137)Cs retention ability, was determined for the soil clays. The composition of clay minerals in the soil clays was estimated from peak areas obtained using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. The predominant clay mineral was smectite in soils from Hama-dori and Aizu, while this was variable for those from Naka-dori. Native K content of the soil clays was found to be an indicator of the amount of micaceous minerals. The average RIP for the 97 soil clays was 7.8 mol kg(-1), and ranged from 2.4 mol kg(-1) to 19.4 mol kg(-1). The RIP was significantly and positively correlated with native K content for each of the geographical regions, Hama-dori (r = 0.76, p < 0.001), Naka-dori (r = 0.43, p < 0.05), and Aizu (r = 0.76, P < 0.001), while it was not related to the relative abundance of smectite. The linear relationship between RIP and native K content not only indicate a large contribution of micaceous minerals to the (137)Cs retention ability of the soil clays, but also could be used to predict the (137)Cs retention ability of soil clays for other paddy fields in Fukushima and other areas.

Examination of the percentage of immature platelet fraction in term and preterm infants at birth

Background:

Reticulated platelets (RPs) are newly synthesized platelets. Recently, an automatic method was established to detect RPs as a percentage of the immature platelet fraction (IPF%). Although, neonates often develop thrombocytopenia at some time during their hospitalization, the details of IPF% in neonates remain unclear. We, therefore, studied the relations between IPF% and other factors to gain a more detailed understanding of IPF% in neonates.

Methods:

The following clinical data were obtained from the medical records of 105 neonates who met our inclusion criteria: Gestational age, birth weight, IPF% and platelet count of neonatal peripheral blood at birth, and perinatal data. The subjects were divided into three groups: Group A, birth weight standard deviation score (SDS) ≥ −2 standard deviation (SD) and ≤ +2 SD; Group S, < −2 SD; and Group L, > +2 SD.

Results:

IPF% correlated negatively with platelet count at birth in the whole study population. IPF% was 2.8 ± 1.3% in term neonates, and IPF correlated negatively with gestational age and birth weight. Platelet count correlated positively with birth weight SDS in the whole study population and in Group S. IPF% correlated negatively with birth weight SDS in the whole study population and in Group S. In neonates with a platelet count below 25 × 10⁴/μl, IPF% correlated negatively with platelet count. Among other neonates, however, IPF% remained almost constant.

Conclusion:

Monitoring of IPF% is useful for estimating the function of thrombocytopoiesis in neonates and preterm infants.

Value of peritoneal cytology in potentially resectable pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

Peritoneal lavage cytology (CY) is used in the diagnosis and staging of various cancers. The clinical significance of positive cytology results in patients with pancreatic cancer is yet to be determined.

METHODS

Peritoneal washing samples were collected from consecutive patients with pancreatic cancer between July 1991 and December 2012. The correlations between cytology results, clinicopathological parameters and recurrence patterns were evaluated. The prognostic impact of CY status, regarding resectability and the effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy, were analysed.

RESULTS

Of 523 included patients, 390 underwent resection. Patients with tumours at least 2 cm in diameter were more likely to have CY+ status than patients with tumours smaller than 2 cm (48 of 312 versus 3 of 78 respectively; P = 0·005) and there was a significant correlation between CY+ status and tumour invasion of the anterior pancreatic capsule (43 of 276 versus 8 of 113 with no invasion of the capsule; P = 0·030). Although the overall survival of patients with resected CY+ tumours was worse than that of patients with resected CY- tumours, it was significantly better than the survival of unresected patients regardless of CY status. Multivariable analysis of all patients who had pancreatectomy did not identify CY+ as an independent prognostic factor. Patients with CY+ tumours tended to develop peritoneal metastasis more often than those with CY- tumours, although not significantly so. The median survival time of 34 patients with resected CY+ tumours who received adjuvant chemotherapy was better than that of 17 patients who had surgery alone, although this was not statistically significant (15·3 versus 10·0 months; P = 0·057).

CONCLUSION

CY+ status is not clinically equivalent to gross peritoneal metastasis in patients with pancreatic cancer. Curative resection is still recommended regardless of CY status.

Photophysical, amplified spontaneous emission and charge transport properties of oligofluorene derivatives in thin films

We investigate the charge transport, photophysical and amplified spontaneous emission properties of a series of monodisperse solution-processable oligofluorenes functionalized with hexyl chains at the C9 position of each fluorene unit.

Pancreatic agenesis with congenital diaphragmatic hernia and congenital heart disease: a case report

Pancreatic agenesis is a rare disease that causes neonatal diabetes mellitus and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. We report the case of a very low birth weight infant with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, and congenital heart disease (ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus). Failure to gain weight, despite well-managed respiratory and heart failure, was improved by infusion of subcutaneous insulin, administration of pancreatic enzyme, and nutrition of medium-chain-triglyceride -enriched formula. This is the first case of pancreatic agenesis with both malformations where the patient is discharged from the hospital. Early diagnosis and adequate treatments to compensate pancreatic function may prevent mortality and improve growth.

Time-dependent changes of phytoavailability of Cs added to allophanic Andosols in laboratory cultivations and extraction tests

Although it is well known that phytoavailability of radiocaesium is gradually lost after its deposition on the ground by fixation to soil minerals, the decreasing rates during early period after the deposition is not yet quantitatively evaluated. In this study, stable Cs was added to 5 types of soil, including Andosols, a sand-dune regosol and a smectic lowland soil, in a laboratory soil incubation experiment to assess the aging effect of radiocaesium. Aliquots of a soil sample were put into pots and incubated in an artificial climate chamber. Orchardgrass or red clover was cultivated for 28 d in soil pots containing one of the allophanic Andosol samples seven times during about 1200 d using new pots for each cultivation. The soil-to-plant transfer factors of Cs declined exponentially until about 100 d and were almost constant thereafter. The extractabilities of Cs by water and 1 M NH4OAc solution from this allophanic Andosol soil sample also decreased with time and their decreasing patterns were similar to that of the transfer factor. The temporal changes of extractabilities of Cs in other soil samples were also examined 6 times during about 600 d. Rate of decline for the extracted yield of the added Cs by 1 M NH4OAc varied widely among all the soil types. Two allophanic Andosol samples showed relatively higher extractabilities in comparison with the other soils throughout the incubation experiment, which may be attributable to the lower contribution of Cs specific sorption sites to total cation exchange capacity of the allophonic Andosol soil samples.

[Assessment of oral health using the general oral health assessment index in patients with overactive bladder]

Patients administered anti-cholinergic agents, as first-line therapy for an overactive bladder (OAB) are often unable to continue medical treatment because of dry mouth. We assessed oral health in patients with OAB using the General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI), an oral health-related quality of life questionnaire. We investigated 75 patients with OAB who were receiving continuous administration of anti-cholinergic agents. The OAB symptom score, as well as GOHAI and our original dry mouse score were determined by self-administered questionnaires. The mean age of the subjects was 70.9±10.2 years, the median period of anti-cholinergic agent use was 20 (1-116) months and the mean OAB symptom score was 6.3±3.1. The GOHAI score for all patients was 51.9±8.4 and not significantly different from the national normal value (p＝0.22). On the other hand, the score in patients with a severely dry mouth was 49.2±8.6, which was worse than the national normal value (p＝0.04). The psychosocial functioning score in patients with a severely dry mouth was significantly lower than in those with a slightly dry mouth (p＝0.02). Our results indicate that dry mouth in patients with OAB is significantly associated with worsening of oral health. GOHAI is useful as a screening test to assess the quality of life in patients with OAB.

Biological clock dysfunction exacerbates contact hypersensitivity in mice

BACKGROUND

Immediate-type skin allergic reactions, such as passive cutaneous anaphylactic reaction, are associated with circadian rhythm, but the role of circadian mechanisms on delayed-type skin allergic reactions, such as contact hypersensitivity (CHS), remains uncertain. In mice, CHS, a T-cell-mediated immune response, is a classic model of human allergic contact dermatitis.

OBJECTIVES

  We investigated whether biological clock dysfunction affects CHS pathogenesis in CLOCK mutant mice compared with wild-type (WT) mice.

METHODS

 Mice were treated with 2,4,6-trinitro-1-chlorobenzene (TNCB) on the abdominal skin on day 0 (sensitization) and then treated with TNCB on the ears on day 5 (challenge).

RESULTS

We found that biological clock dysfunction resulted in severe inflammation. Ear swelling, serum immunoglobulin E level and mast cell number were significantly increased in CLOCK mutant mice compared with WT mice. These results provide evidence that CLOCK mutation promotes the T-helper type 2 immune response and exacerbates CHS. Corticosterone has a protective effect on CHS. The serum corticosterone level lost rhythmicity and showed a decreased daily level in CLOCK mutant mice compared with WT mice, supporting the exacerbating effect of CLOCK mutation on CHS. Adrenalectomy markedly worsened TNCB-induced CHS in WT mice but not in CLOCK mutant mice. In addition, dramatic dexamethasone-induced protection of CHS was observed in CLOCK mutant mice compared with WT mice.

CONCLUSIONS

 The present results suggest that circadian rhythm might be an important factor in the regulation of CHS via corticosterone rhythmicity and/or level.

Nitrite reduces acute lung injury and improves survival in a rat lung transplantation model

Ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) is the most common cause of early mortality following lung transplantation (LTx). We hypothesized that nitrite, an endogenous source of nitric oxide (NO), may protect lung grafts from IRI. Rat lung grafts were stored in preservation solution at 4°C for 6 hours. Both grafts and recipients were treated with nitrite. Nitrite treatment was associated with significantly higher levels of tissue oxygenation, lower levels of cytokines and neutrophil/macrophage infiltration, lower myeloperoxidase activity, reduced oxidative injury and increased cGMP levels in grafts than in the controls. Treatment with either a nitric oxide scavenger or a soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) inhibitor diminished the beneficial effects of nitrite and decreased cGMP concentrations. These results suggest that nitric oxide, generated from nitrite, is the molecule responsible for the effects of nitrite via the nitric oxide/sGC/cGMP pathway. Allopurinol, a xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) inhibitor, abrogated the protective effects of nitrite, suggesting that XOR is a key enzyme in the conversion of nitrite to nitric oxide. In vitro experiments demonstrated that nitrite prevented apoptosis in pulmonary endothelial cells. Nitrite also exhibits longer survival rate in recipients than control. In conclusion, nitrite inhibits lung IRI following cold preservation and had higher survival rate in LTx model.

Peierls mechanism of the metal-insulator transition in ferromagnetic hollandite K2Cr8O16

Synchrotron x-ray diffraction experiment shows that the metal-insulator transition occurring in a ferromagnetic state of a hollandite K(2)Cr(8)O(16) is accompanied by a structural distortion from the tetragonal I4/m to monoclinic P112(1)/a phase with a √2×√2×1 supercell. Detailed electronic structure calculations demonstrate that the metal-insulator transition is caused by a Peierls instability in the quasi-one-dimensional column structure made of four coupled Cr-O chains running in the c direction, leading to the formation of tetramers of Cr ions below the transition temperature. This provides a rare example of the Peierls transition of fully spin-polarized electron systems.

Impact of novel oncolytic virus HF10 on cellular components of the tumor microenviroment in patients with recurrent breast cancer

Oncolytic viruses are a promising method of cancer therapy, even for advanced malignancies. HF10, a spontaneously mutated herpes simplex type 1, is a potent oncolytic agent. The interaction of oncolytic herpes viruses with the tumor microenvironment has not been well characterized. We injected HF10 into tumors of patients with recurrent breast carcinoma, and sought to determine its effects on the tumor microenvironment. Six patients with recurrent breast cancer were recruited to the study. Tumors were divided into two groups: saline-injected (control) and HF10-injected (treatment). We investigated several parameters including neovascularization (CD31) and tumor lymphocyte infiltration (CD8, CD4), determined by immunohistochemistry, and apoptosis, determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. Median apoptotic cell count was lower in the treatment group (P=0.016). Angiogenesis was significantly higher in treatment group (P=0.032). Count of CD8-positive lymphocytes infiltrating the tumors was higher in the treatment group (P=0.008). We were unable to determine CD4-positive lymphocyte infiltration. An effective oncolytic viral agent must replicate efficiently in tumor cells, leading to higher viral counts, in order to aid viral penetration. HF10 seems to meet this criterion; furthermore, it induces potent antitumor immunity. The increase in angiogenesis may be due to either viral replication or the inflammatory response.