Three cases of lupus nephritis patients with serum interleukin-32γ detection

PURPOSE

Interleukin-32 (IL-32) is an inflammatory cytokine that is associated with the pathogenesis of several connective tissue diseases. We measured serum IL-32γ concentrations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

METHODS

Serum samples were obtained from SLE patients (n = 51), and healthy controls (n = 15). Serum IL-32 concentrations were measured using ELISA. Clinical information was obtained from medical records.

RESULTS

Serum IL-32γ was detectable in three cases of SLE patients, whereas it was not detected in any healthy controls. Case 1: a 44-year-old female with lupus nephritis (LN) (Class II) and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Serum IL-32γ was 5.1 pg/ml. Case 2: a 30-year-old female with a history of diffuse proliferative LN (Class IV G (A/C)) and pulmonary hemorrhage. Serum IL-32γ was 8.9 pg/ml. Case 3: a 45-year-old female with chronic LN. Serum IL-32γ was 9.1 pg/ml. All three cases of IL-32γ-detectable patients had histories of LN and one had an active disease. In the context of LN, serum IL-32γ was detectable in 18.8% (three of 16) of SLE patients with histories of LN.

CONCLUSION

We suppose that IL-32γ could contribute to the pathogenesis of renal diseases in some LN patients.

Direct detection of human herpesvirus 6B by the LAMP method using newly developed dry-reagents

The reliability of the HHV-6B LAMP using the dry-reagent method was evaluated using serum samples obtained from febrile children. The sensitivity of the original and dry-reagent methods was 10 copies/reaction and 100 copies/reaction, respectively. The dry-reagent LAMP method was highly sensitive (94.0%) and specific (96.0%) for the detection of HHV-6B.

Clinical evaluation of a loop-mediated amplification kit for diagnosis of imported malaria

Background. Diagnosis of malaria relies on parasite detection by microscopy or antigen detection; both fail to detect low-density infections. New tests providing rapid, sensitive diagnosis with minimal need for training would enhance both malaria diagnosis and malaria control activities. We determined the diagnostic accuracy of a new loop-mediated amplification (LAMP) kit in febrile returned travelers.

Methods. The kit was evaluated in sequential blood samples from returned travelers sent for pathogen testing to a specialist parasitology laboratory. Microscopy was performed, and then malaria LAMP was performed using Plasmodium genus and Plasmodium falciparum–specific tests in parallel. Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on all samples as the reference standard. Primary outcome measures for diagnostic accuracy were sensitivity and specificity of LAMP results, compared with those of nested PCR.

Results. A total of 705 samples were tested in the primary analysis. Sensitivity and specificity were 98.4% and 98.1%, respectively, for the LAMP P. falciparum primers and 97.0% and 99.2%, respectively, for the Plasmodium genus primers. Post hoc repeat PCR analysis of all 15 tests with discrepant results resolved 4 results in favor of LAMP, suggesting that the primary analysis had underestimated diagnostic accuracy.

Conclusions. Malaria LAMP had a diagnostic accuracy similar to that of nested PCR, with a greatly reduced time to result, and was superior to expert microscopy.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP): recent progress in research and development

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is an established technology that continues to attract the attention of researchers in many fields. Research and development efforts on LAMP technology in recent years have focused on two major areas; first, the study of its clinical application as an approved in vitro diagnostics tool in Japan and certain other countries; and second, research aimed at further simplifying the LAMP test process. This review provides an overview of the status of LAMP on these two topics by summarizing research work conducted, in the main, after our previous review article.

Flow cytometry as a diagnostic method for colorectal cancer

Intraoperative histopathological investigation plays an important role during surgery. Since the pathologist performs a diagnosis with a limited level of specimen, it may sometimes be difficult to reach a correct diagnosis. To improve the accuracy of the diagnosis, quantitative data from the whole specimen are helpful. It said that the detection capability for DNA aneuploidy (aneuploidy) is low for solid cancer compared with hematopoietic organ cancer. A new method that includes fresh tissue is introduced, the histogram from cancer tissue (cancer) and normal tissue (normal) is compared, new classification criteria are introduced, the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) pattern (FFT pattern) obtained from FFT on the histogram is analyzed, and the area under the FFT pattern of the histogram (AUC) is compared. This method, named the "FFT-AUC method", which includes comparisons of AUC and the FFT pattern, shows good results.

New automatic cell isolation system for flow cytometry: cell isolation unit and staining reagent kit

Flow cytometry is well-known cell analysis method and useful to gain quantitative information from cells in blood, however, it is not widely used for solid tissues in clinical settings. This is partly because it takes a long time to prepare samples and the operation can be complicated. To resolve these problems, we developed a new automatic cell isolation system which consists of cell isolation unit and staining reagent kit specialized for flow cytometry. With this new system, cell isolation can be done more rapidly and easily. By using this method, we could determine optimum condition to disintegrate porcine colon tissue and stain cells stably in 6 minutes. This result indicates that our method can provide analysis data within 10 minutes. We also evaluated our method in colorectal cancer patients, and the result was promising. All the data suggests that this method can support and facilitate rapid diagnosis.

Optical imaging of retina in response to grating stimuli in cats

We examined the intrinsic signals in response to grating stimuli in order to determine whether the light-evoked intrinsic signals of the retina are due to changes in the photoreceptor activities induced by the image projected on to the retina or are due to neural activities of the inner retina. The retinas of the left eye of 12 cats under general anesthesia were examined by a functional imaging fundus camera. Near infrared light was used to monitor the reflectance changes (RCs) of the retina. Vertical grating were used to stimulate the retina at 4 Hz. The spatial frequencies of the gratings were 0.05, 0.11, 0.22, 0.43, 0.86, 1.73, and 3.46 cycles/degree (cpd). Ten images were averaged and used to analyze the RCs to obtain the peak value (PV) of a two dimensional fast Fourier transfer of the RCs. The wavefront aberrations (WA) were measured with a compact wavefront aberrometer and the spatial modulation transfer function (MTF) of the eye was calculated. The retinal reflectance image had a grating pattern. The PV of the spatial sensitivity curve was highest at low spatial frequencies (0.05 and 0.11 cpd), and the sensitivity decreased steeply with an increase in the spatial frequency. RCs were not detectable at 3.46 cpd. The MTF decreased gradually with increases in the spatial frequencies and was 0.68 at 3.46 cpd. The reflectance pattern of the retinal intrinsic signal elicited by grating stimuli of different spatial frequencies was different from that of the MTF. This suggests that the intrinsic signal represents not only the response of the photoreceptors but also other neuronal or vascular changes in the retina.

Observation of the (Λ)(7)He hypernucleus by the (e, e'K+) reaction

An experiment with a newly developed high-resolution kaon spectrometer and a scattered electron spectrometer with a novel configuration was performed in Hall C at Jefferson Lab. The ground state of a neutron-rich hypernucleus, (Λ)(7)He, was observed for the first time with the (e, e'K+) reaction with an energy resolution of ~0.6 MeV. This resolution is the best reported to date for hypernuclear reaction spectroscopy. The (Λ)(7)He binding energy supplies the last missing information of the A = 7, T = 1 hypernuclear isotriplet, providing a new input for the charge symmetry breaking effect of the ΛN potential.

Feasibility of 2nd generation STS retinal prosthesis in dogs

We developed a 2(nd) generation suprachoroidal transretinal stimulation (STS) system with a 49 channel electrode array and implanted in 2 dogs. One month after surgery, all electrodes were functioning and the ocular fundus was normal in both dogs. The results indicate the 2(nd) generation STS retinal prosthesis is feasible and can be considered for clinical use.

Characterization of 5C11-positive activated interferon-producing cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE

5C11 antibody is a novel monoclonal antibody against human BST2 and can be used to detect activation of interferon-producing cells (IPCs). Activated IPCs, which produce large amounts of interferon-α (IFNα), are considered to play an important role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We investigated the characterization of 5C11-positive cells in patients with SLE.

METHODS

The proportions of 5C11-positive cells among blood dendritic cell antigen 2 (BDCA-2)-, CD3-, CD19- and CD14-positive cells in peripheral blood from SLE patients (SLE-PBMCs) and healthy controls (control-PBMCs) were analyzed by flow cytometry. The effect of 5C11 antibody on IFNα production from SLE-PBMCs under stimulation with cytosine-phosphate-guanosine (CpG2216, bacterial oligonucleotide motif) was also examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

The proportions of 5C11-positive cells among BDCA-2-, CD3- and CD19-, but not CD14-positive cells in SLE-PBMCs were significantly increased compared to those in control-PBMCs (p < 0.0001, all). Especially, the number of 5C11-positive cells among BDCA-2-positive cells was significantly increased in SLE-PBMCs by about six-fold compared to that in control-PBMCs (p < 0.0001). 5C11 antibody inhibited IFNα production by SLE-PBMCs induced by CpG and the inhibition rates was 27% (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

SLE patients had a significantly higher proportion of 5C11-positive cells among CD3 and CD19 cells, and especially BDCA-2 positive cells. The ability of 5C11 antibody to inhibit IFNα production from SLE-PBMCs warrants further investigation for its possible clinical application for the treatment of SLE.

Multi-decadal survival of an Antarctic nematode, Plectus murrayi, in a -20°C stored moss sample

It is not clear for how long Antarctic soil nematodes might tolerate freezing. Samples of the Antarctic moss, Bryum argenteum, were collected on 1 October 1983 at Langhovde, Soya coast, eastern Antarctica and were stored at -20°C. After 25.5 years of storage, living nematodes were recovered from the samples and were identified as Plectus murrayi by morphological examination and nucleotide sequencing of ribosomal RNA loci. The nematodes can grow and reproduce in a water agar plate with bacteria (mainly Pseudomonas sp.) cultured from the moss extract. They showed freezing tolerance at -20°C and -80°C and their survival rate after exposure to -20°C, but not -80°C, was increased if they were initially frozen slowly at a high sub-zero temperature. They also showed some ability to tolerate desiccation stress.

CMOS-based smart-electrode-type retinal stimulator with bullet-shaped bulk Pt electrodes

A CMOS-based flexible retinal stimulator equipped with bullet-shaped bulk Pt electrodes was fabricated and demonstrated. We designed a new CMOS unit chip with an on-chip stimulator, single- and multi-site stimulation modes, and monitoring functions. We have developed a new structure and packaging process of flexible retinal stimulator with bullet-type bulk Pt electrode. We have confirmed the retinal stimulation functionality in an in vivo stimulation trial on rabbit's retina.

Evaluation of the reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) as a screening method for the detection of influenza viruses in the fecal materials of water birds

Migratory water birds are a natural reservoir for influenza A viruses. Viruses replicate in the intestines of ducks and are shed with the fecal materials. Virus isolation from collected fecal materials, therefore, is an integral part of the surveillance of avian influenza in water birds. In the present study, reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) was assessed for its usefulness in detecting the RNA of influenza A viruses in fecal materials. It was found that, RT-LAMP specifically and sensitively detects the matrix gene of influenza A viruses. Influenza A viruses were isolated from the fecal materials in which viral RNA were detected by RT-LAMP in 35 min. The present findings indicate that RT-LAMP is useful as a high throughput screening method for field samples prior to virus isolation, allowing the processing of hundreds of samples per day.