Therapeutic implication of genetic variants of IL13 and STAT4 in airway remodelling with bronchial asthma

BACKGROUND

Several gene variants identified in bronchial asthmatic patients are associated with a decrease in pulmonary function. The effects of this intervention on pulmonary function have not been fully researched.

OBJECTIVE

We determined the effects of high-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) on decreased pulmonary function in asthmatic Japanese patients with variants of IL13 and STAT4 during long-term treatments with low to mild doses of ICS.

METHODS

In this study, 411 patients with bronchial asthma who were receiving ICSs and living in Japan were recruited, were genotyped, and underwent pulmonary function tests and fibreoptic examinations. The effects of 2 years of high-dose ICSs administered to asthmatic patients who were homozygous for IL13 AA of rs20541 or STAT4 TT of rs925847 and who progressed to airway remodelling were investigated.

RESULTS

High-dose ICS treatment increased the pulmonary function of patients homozygous for IL13 AA of rs20541 but not of patients homozygous for STAT4 TT of rs925847. The increased concentrations of the mediators IL23, IL11, GMCSF, hyaluronic acid, IL24, and CCL8 in bronchial lavage fluid (BLF) were diminished after high-dose ICS treatment in patients homozygous for IL13 AA of rs20541.

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

IL13 AA of rs20541 and STAT4 TT of rs925847 are potential genomic biomarkers for predicting lower pulmonary function. The administration of high-dose ICSs to asthmatic patients with genetic variants of IL13 AA may inhibit the advancement of airway remodelling. The genetic variants of STAT4 TT did not respond to high-dose ICSs. Therefore, using medications other than ICSs must be considered even during the initial treatment of bronchial asthma. These genetic variants may aid in the realization of personalized and phenotype-specific therapies for bronchial asthma.

Measurement and comparison of individual external doses of high-school students living in Japan, France, Poland and Belarus-the 'D-shuttle' project

Twelve high schools in Japan (of which six are in Fukushima Prefecture), four in France, eight in Poland and two in Belarus cooperated in the measurement and comparison of individual external doses in 2014. In total 216 high-school students and teachers participated in the study. Each participant wore an electronic personal dosimeter 'D-shuttle' for two weeks, and kept a journal of his/her whereabouts and activities. The distributions of annual external doses estimated for each region overlap with each other, demonstrating that the personal external individual doses in locations where residence is currently allowed in Fukushima Prefecture and in Belarus are well within the range of estimated annual doses due to the terrestrial background radiation level of other regions/countries.

Second allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children with severe aplastic anemia

The outcome of 55 children with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) who received a second hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was retrospectively analyzed using the registration data of the Japanese Society for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and failure-free survival (FFS) after the second transplantation were 82.9% (95% confidence interval (CI), 69.7-90.8)) and 81.2% (95% CI, 67.8-89.4), respectively. FFS was significantly better when the interval between the first and second transplantation was >60 days (88.9%; 95% CI, 73.0-95.7) than when it was ⩽60 days (61.4%; 95% CI, 33.3-80.5; P=0.026). All 12 patients who were conditioned with regimens containing fludarabine and melphalan were alive with hematopoietic recovery. These findings justify the recommendation of a second HSCT for children with SAA who have experienced graft failure after first HSCT.

Effects of parathyroid hormone-related protein on systemic and regional hemodynamics in conscious rats. A comparison with human parathyroid hormone

PTHrp was discovered as a humoral hypercalcemic factor of malignancy and has been shown to bind the same receptor as PTH in rat bone cells, canine renal membranes, and rabbit renal microvessels. We investigated the global effect of human PTH(hPTH) and PTHrp on systemic and regional hemodynamics in conscious rats. The hypotensive response to PTHrp was more potent than that to hPTH. Although hPTH (15 micrograms/kg/min, i.v.) caused a significant increase in cardiac output, whereas PTHrp (5 micrograms/kg/min, i.v.) caused no change in cardiac output despite a similar hypotensive effect to hPTH, the effects of PTHrp and hPTHrp on regional hemodynamics were quite similar, and both peptides had a prominent vasodilatory effect on the coronary and hepatic arteries. Therefore, PTHrp appears to have an important role in blood pressure and regional hemodynamics as does hPTH.

Class IIa HDAC inhibition enhances ER stress-mediated cell death in multiple myeloma

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have been extensively investigated as therapeutic agents in cancer. However, the biological role of class IIa HDACs (HDAC4, 5, 7 and 9) in cancer cells, including multiple myeloma (MM), remains unclear. Recent studies show HDAC4 interacts with activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) and inhibits activation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-associated proapoptotic transcription factor C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP). In this study, we hypothesized that HDAC4 knockdown and/or inhibition could enhance apoptosis in MM cells under ER stress condition by upregulating ATF4, followed by CHOP. HDAC4 knockdown showed modest cell growth inhibition; however, it markedly enhanced cytotoxicity induced by either tunicamycin or carfilzomib (CFZ), associated with upregulating ATF4 and CHOP. For pharmacological inhibition of HDAC4, we employed a novel and selective class IIa HDAC inhibitor TMP269, alone and in combination with CFZ. As with HDAC4 knockdown, TMP269 significantly enhanced cytotoxicity induced by CFZ in MM cell lines, upregulating ATF4 and CHOP and inducing apoptosis. Conversely, enhanced cytotoxicity was abrogated by ATF4 knockdown, confirming that ATF4 has a pivotal role mediating cytotoxicity in this setting. These results provide the rationale for novel treatment strategies combining class IIa HDAC inhibitors with ER stressors, including proteasome inhibitors, to improve patient outcome in MM.

Digitized detection of gamma-ray signals concentrated in narrow time windows for transient positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy

A pulsed slow-positron beam generated by an electron linear accelerator was directly used for positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy without any positron storage devices. A waveform digitizer was introduced to simultaneously capture multiple gamma-ray signals originating from positron annihilation events during a single accelerator pulse. The positron pulse was chopped and bunched with the chopper signals also sent to the waveform digitizer. Time differences between the annihilation gamma-ray and chopper peaks were calculated and accumulated as lifetime spectra in a computer. The developed technique indicated that positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy can be performed in a 20 μs time window at a pulse repetition rate synchronous with the linear accelerator. Lifetime spectra of a Kapton sheet and a thermally grown SiO2 layer on Si were successfully measured. Synchronization of positron lifetime measurements with pulsed ion irradiation was demonstrated by this technique.

Development and Validation of LC-MS/MS Assay for the Quantification of Progesterone in Rat Plasma and its Application to Pharmacokinetic Studies

A sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of progesterone levels in rat plasma. Progesterone-d9 was used as an internal standard (IS). Samples were prepared using salting-out assisted liquid/liquid extraction (SALLE), and the extracts were injected directly onto the LC-MS/MS system. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a CAPCELL PAK C18 MGIII column (100 mm × 2.0 mm, i.d. 5 µm) using methanol and aqueous 0.1% formic acid solution gradient as the mobile phase with a constant flow rate of 0.45 mL/min. Electrospray ionization in the positive-ion mode was employed. Multiple reaction monitoring of the precursor to product ion pairs, from m/z 315.20 to m/z 109.10 for progesterone and from m/z 324.26 to m/z 113.07 for the IS, was used for quantification. Good linearity was observed over the concentration range of 0.05-20.00 ng/mL with a weighted (1/x(2)) linear regression. The intra- and inter-day precision (% relative standard deviation [RSD]) across 3 validation days over the entire concentration range was lower than 6.7%. Accuracy (% nominal) determined at 5 quality control concentrations was between 94.0 and 103.7%. The validation method was applied in a pharmacokinetic study evaluating progesterone levels after intramuscular or vaginal administration to ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) calculated after intramuscular administration was more than 4 times higher than the AUC measured following vaginal administration of a comparable dose.

Phosphorylation of Smad2/3 at the specific linker threonine residue indicates slow-cycling esophageal stem-like cells before re-entry to the cell cycle

The stem cell compartment in the esophageal epithelium is possibly located in the basal layer. We have identified significant expression of Smad2/3, phosphorylated at specific linker threonine residues (pSmad2/3L-Thr), in the epithelial cells of murine stomach and intestine, and have suggested that these cells are epithelial stem cells. In this study, we explore whether pSmad2/3L-Thr could serve as a biomarker for esophageal stem cells. We examined esophageal tissues from normal C57BL/6 mice and those with esophagitis. Double immunofluorescent staining of pSmad2/3L-Thr with Ki67, CDK4, p63, or CK14 was performed. After immunofluorescent staining, we stained the same sections with hematoxylin-eosin and observed these cells under a light microscope. We used the 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling assay to examine label retention of pSmad2/3L-Thr immunostaining-positive cells. We collected specimens 5, 10, 15 and 20 days after repeated BrdU administrations and observed double immunofluorescent staining of pSmad2/3L-Thr with BrdU. In the esophagus, pSmad2/3L-Thr immunostaining-positive cells were detected in the basal layer. These cells were detected between Ki67 immunostaining-positive cells, but they were not co-localized with Ki67. pSmad2/3L-Thr immunostaining-positive cells showed co-localization with CDK4, p63, and CK14. Under a light microscope, pSmad2/3L-Thr immunostaining-positive cells indicated undifferentiated morphological features. Until 20 days follow-up period, pSmad2/3L-Thr immunostaining-positive cells were co-localized with BrdU. pSmad2/3L-Thr immunostaining-positive cells significantly increased in the regeneration phase of esophagitis mucosae, as compared with control mice (esophagitis vs.

CONTROL

6.889 ± 0.676/cm vs. 4.293 ± 0.659/cm; P < 0.001). We have identified significant expression of pSmad2/3L-Thr in the specific epithelial cells of murine esophagi. We suggest that these cells are slow-cycling epithelial stem-like cells before re-entry to the cell cycle.

Impact of pretransplant body mass index on the clinical outcome after allogeneic hematopoietic SCT

To elucidate the impact of pretransplant body mass index (BMI) on the clinical outcome, we performed a retrospective study with registry data including a total of 12 050 patients (age ⩾18 years) who received allogeneic hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) between 2000 and 2010. Patients were stratified as follows: BMI<18.5 kg/m(2), Underweight, n=1791; 18.5⩽BMI<25, Normal, n=8444; 25⩽BMI<30, Overweight, n=1591; BMI⩾30, Obese, n=224. The median age was 45 years (range, 18-77). A multivariate analysis showed that the risk of relapse was significantly higher in the underweight group and lower in the overweight and obese groups compared with the normal group (hazard ratio (HR), 1.16, 0.86, and 0.74, respectively). The risk of GVHD was significantly higher in the overweight group compared with the normal group. The risk of non-relapse mortality (NRM) was significantly higher in the overweight and obese group compared with the normal group (HR 1.19 and HR 1.43, respectively). The probability of OS was lower in the underweight group compared with the normal group (HR 1.10, P=0.018). In conclusion, pretransplant BMI affected the risk of relapse and NRM after allogeneic HSCT. Underweight was a risk factor for poor OS because of an increased risk of relapse. Obesity was a risk factor for NRM.

Valley-dependent spin polarization in bulk MoS2 with broken inversion symmetry

The valley degree of freedom of electrons is attracting growing interest as a carrier of information in various materials, including graphene, diamond and monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenides. The monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenides are semiconducting and are unique due to the coupling between the spin and valley degrees of freedom originating from the relativistic spin-orbit interaction. Here, we report the direct observation of valley-dependent out-of-plane spin polarization in an archetypal transition-metal dichalcogenide--MoS2--using spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. The result is in fair agreement with a first-principles theoretical prediction. This was made possible by choosing a 3R polytype crystal, which has a non-centrosymmetric structure, rather than the conventional centrosymmetric 2H form. We also confirm robust valley polarization in the 3R form by means of circularly polarized photoluminescence spectroscopy. Non-centrosymmetric transition-metal dichalcogenide crystals may provide a firm basis for the development of magnetic and electric manipulation of spin/valley degrees of freedom.

Positron annihilation in cardo-based polymer membranes

Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) is applied to a series of bis(aniline)fluorene and bis(xylidine)fluorene-based cardo polyimide and bis(phenol)fluorene-based polysulfone membranes. It was found that favorable amounts of positronium (Ps, the positron-electron bound state) form in cardo polyimides with the 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA) moiety and bis(phenol)fluorene-based cardo polysulfone, but no Ps forms in most of the polyimides with pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and 3,3',4,4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) moieties. A bis(xylidine)fluorene-based polyimide membrane containing PMDA and BTDA moieties exhibits a little Ps formation but the ortho-positronium (o-Ps, the triplet state of Ps) lifetime of this membrane anomalously shortens with increasing temperature, which we attribute to chemical reaction of o-Ps. Correlation between the hole size (V(h)) deduced from the o-Ps lifetime and diffusion coefficients of O2 and N2 for polyimides with the 6FDA moiety and cardo polysulfone showing favorable Ps formation is discussed based on free volume theory of gas diffusion. It is suggested that o-Ps has a strong tendency to probe larger holes in rigid chain polymers with wide hole size distributions such as those containing cardo moieties, resulting in deviations from the previously reported correlations for common polymers such as polystyrene, polycarbonate, polysulfone, and so forth.

Dobutamine stress echocardiography for assessment of systolic function in dogs with experimentally induced mitral regurgitation

Background

Systolic dysfunction is associated with poor outcomes in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease. However, assessment of systolic variables by conventional echocardiographic methods is difficult in these dogs because of mitral regurgitation (MR).

Hypothesis

We hypothesized that assessment of systolic function by dobutamine stress may identify systolic dysfunction in dogs with MR, and that 2‐dimensional speckle‐tracking echocardiography (2D‐STE) could quantitatively evaluate myocardial function.

Animals

Anesthetized dogs with experimentally induced MR.

Methods

Dogs were examined for systolic myocardial deformations using 2D‐STE during dobutamine infusion before and 3 and 6 months after MR induction. We evaluated peak systolic rotation and rotation rate in each basal and apical view; peak systolic torsion and torsion rate were also calculated.

Results

Invasive peak positive first derivatives of left ventricular pressure (dp/dt) were significantly decreased in dogs 6 months after induction of MR compared with pre‐MR results. After 3 and 6 months of MR, dogs had diminished peak systolic torsion values and torsion rates in response to dobutamine infusion compared with pre‐MR results (3 months, P < .001 and P = .006; 6 months, P = .003 and P = .021). These results were significantly correlated with overall invasive dp/dt (r = 0.644, P < .001; r = 0.696, P < .001).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Decreased torsion during dobutamine infusion in dogs with MR may reflect latent systolic dysfunction. Dobutamine infusion, therefore, may be useful for the assessment of systolic function in dogs with MR.

Continuing increased risk of oral/esophageal cancer after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in adults in association with chronic graft-versus-host disease

BACKGROUND

The number of long-term survivors after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) showed steady increase in the past two decades. Second malignancies after HSCT are a devastating late complication. We analyzed the incidence of, risk compared with that in the general population, and risk factors for secondary solid cancers.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients were 17 545 adult recipients of a first allogeneic stem cell transplantation between 1990 and 2007 in Japan. Risks of developing secondary solid tumors were compared with general population by using standard incidence ratios (SIRs).

RESULTS

Two-hundred sixty-nine secondary solid cancers were identified. The cumulative incidence was 0.7% [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.6%-0.9%] at 5 years and 1.7% (95% CI, 1.4%-1.9%) at 10 years after transplant. The risk was significantly higher than that in the general population (SIR=1.8, 95% CI, 1.5-2.0). Risk was higher for oral cancer (SIR=15.7, 95% CI, 12.1-20.1), esophageal cancer (SIR=8.5, 95% CI, 6.1-11.5), colon cancer (SIR=1.9, 95% CI, 1.2-2.7), skin cancer (SIR=7.2, 95% CI, 3.9-12.4), and brain/nervous system cancer (SIR=4.1, 95% CI, 1.6-8.4). The risk of developing oral, esophageal, or skin cancer was higher at all times after 1-year post-transplant. Extensive-type chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was a significant risk factor for the development of all solid tumors (RR=1.8, P<0.001), as well as for oral (RR=2.9, P<0.001) and esophageal (RR=5.3, P<0.001) cancers. Limited-type chronic GVHD was an independent risk factor for skin cancers (RR=5.8, P=0.016).

CONCLUSION

Recipients of allogeneic HSCT had a significantly higher ∼2-fold risk of developing secondary solid cancers than the general population. Lifelong screening for high-risk organ sites, especially oral or esophageal cancers, is important for recipients with active, or a history of, chronic GVHD.

PBSC collection from family donors in Japan: a prospective survey

Severe adverse events (SAE) and late hematological malignancies have been reported after PBSC donation. No prospective data on incidence and risk factors have been available for family donors so far. The Japan Society for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (JSHCT) introduced therefore in 2000 a mandatory registration system. It defined standards for donor eligibility and asked harvest centers to report any SAE immediately. All donors were examined at day 30 and were to be contacted once each year for a period of 5 years. Acute SAEs within day 30 were reported from 47/3264 donations (1.44%) with 14 events considered as unexpected and severe (0.58%). No donor died within 30 days. Late SAEs were reported from 39/1708 donors (2.3%). The incidence of acute SAEs was significantly higher among donors not matching the JSHCT standards (P=0.0023). Late hematological malignancies in PBSC donors were not different compared with a retrospective cohort of BM donors (N:1/1708 vs N:2/5921; P=0.53). In conclusion, acute and late SAEs do occur in PBSC donors at relatively low frequency but risk factors can be defined.

Thrombus-targeted perfluorocarbon-containing liposomal bubbles for enhancement of ultrasonic thrombolysis: in vitro and in vivo study

BACKGROUND

External low-frequency ultrasound (USD) in combination with microbubbles has been reported to recanalize thrombotically occluded arteries in animal models.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine the enhancing effect of thrombus-targeted bubble liposomes (BLs) developed for fresh thrombus imaging during ultrasonic thrombolysis.

METHODS

In vitro: after the administration of thrombus-targeted BLs or non-targeted BLs, the clot was exposed to low-frequency (27 kHz) USD for 5 min. In vivo: Rabbit iliofemoral arteries were thrombotically occluded, and an intravenous injection of either targeted BLs (n = 22) or non-targeted BLs (n = 22) was delivered. External low-frequency USD (low intensity, 1.4 W cm(-2) , to 12 arteries, and high intensity, 4.0 W cm(-2) , to 10 arteries, for both the targeted BL group and the non-targeted BL group) was applied to the thrombotically occluded arteries for 60 min. In another 10 rabbits, recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) was intravenously administered.

RESULTS

In vitro: the weight reduction rate of the clot with targeted BLs was significantly higher than that of the clot with non-targeted BLs. In vivo: TIMI grade 3 flow was present in a significantly higher number of rabbits with USD and targeted BLs than rabbits with USD and non-targeted BLs, or with rt-PA monotherapy. High-intensity USD exposure with targeted BLs achieved arterial recanalization in 90% of arteries, and the time to reperfusion was shorter than with rt-PA treatment (targeted BLs, 16.7 ± 5.0 min; rt-PA, 41.3 ± 14.4 min).

CONCLUSIONS

Thrombus-targeted BLs developed for USD thrombus imaging enhance ultrasonic disruption of thrombus both in vitro and in vivo.

Gene delivery to periodontal tissue using Bubble liposomes and ultrasound

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Periodontitis is the most common inflammatory disease caused by oral biofilm infection. For efficient periodontal treatment, it is important to enhance the outcome of existing regenerative therapies. The physical action of an ultrasound may be able to deliver a therapeutic gene or drugs into the local area of the periodontium being treated for periodontal regeneration. Previously, we developed "Bubble liposomes" as a useful carrier for gene or drug delivery, and reported that delivery efficiency was increased with high-frequency ultrasound in vitro and in vivo. Hence, the aim of the present study was to examine the possibility of delivering genes into gingival tissues using Bubble liposomes and ultrasound.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We attempted to deliver naked plasmid DNA encoding luciferase or enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) into the lower labial gingiva of Wistar rats using Bubble liposomes, with or without ultrasound exposure. Ultrasound parameters were optimized for intensity (0-4.0 W/cm(2) ) and exposure time (0-120 s) to establish the most efficient conditions for exposure. The efficacy and duration of gene expression in the gingiva were investigated using a luciferase assay and fluorescence microscopy.

RESULTS

The strongest relative luciferase activity was observed when rats were treated under the following ultrasound conditions: 2.0 W/cm(2) intensity and 30 s of exposure time. Relative luciferase activity, 1 d after gene delivery, was significantly higher in gingiva treated using Bubble liposomes and ultrasound than in gingiva of the other treatment groups. Histological analysis also showed that distinct EGFP-expressing cells were observed in transfected gingiva when rats were treated under optimized conditions.

CONCLUSION

From these results, the combination of Bubble liposomes and ultrasound provides an efficient technique for delivering plasmid DNA into the gingiva. This technique can be applied for the delivery of a variety of therapeutic molecules into target tissue, and may serve as a useful treatment strategy for periodontitis.

Reduced-intensity vs myeloablative conditioning allogeneic hematopoietic SCT for patients aged over 45 years with ALL in remission: a study from the Adult ALL Working Group of the Japan Society for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (JSHCT)

In this study, outcomes for 575 adult ALL patients aged ≥45 years who underwent first allo-SCT in CR were analyzed according to the type of conditioning regimen (myeloablative conditioning (MAC) for 369 patients vs reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) for 206 patients). Patients in the RIC group were older (median age, 58 vs 51 years, P<0.0001). There were no statistically significant differences in 3-year OS, disease-free survival (DFS) and non-relapse mortality (NRM): 51% vs 53%, 47% vs 39% and 38% vs 36%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that CR2 and HLA mismatching were associated with poor OS (P=0.002 and P=0.019, respectively). HLA mismatching was associated with lower rate of relapse (P=0.016), but was associated with higher rate of NRM (P=0.001). RIC was associated with good OS and DFS in patients who received HLA-mismatch transplantation and were aged ≥55 years compared with MAC by multivariate analysis for each event with interaction (hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval 0.35 and 0.15-0.81, P=0.014 for OS and 0.36 and 0.16-0.81, P=0.013 for DFS). Therefore, patients ≥55 years of age with HLA-mismatch transplantation should be candidates for RIC rather than MAC.

Efficacy and immunomodulatory actions of ONO-4641, a novel selective agonist for sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors 1 and 5, in preclinical models of multiple sclerosis

ONO-4641 is a next-generation sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor agonist selective for S1P receptors 1 and 5. The objective of the study was to characterize the immunomodulatory effects of ONO-4641 using preclinical data. ONO-4641 was tested in both in-vitro pharmacological studies as well as in-vivo models of transient or relapsing-remitting experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In vitro, ONO-4641 showed highly potent agonistic activities versus S1P receptors 1 and 5 [half maximal effective concentration (EC(50) ) values of 0·0273 and 0·334 nM, respectively], and had profound S1P receptor 1 down-regulating effects on the cell membrane. ONO-4641 decreased peripheral blood lymphocyte counts in rats by inhibiting lymphocyte egress from secondary lymphoid tissues. In a rat experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model, ONO-4641 suppressed the onset of disease and inhibited lymphocyte infiltration into the spinal cord in a dose-dependent manner at doses of 0·03 and 0·1 mg/kg. Furthermore, ONO-4641 prevented relapse of disease in a non-obese diabetic mouse model of relapsing-remitting EAE. These observations suggest that ONO-4641 may provide therapeutic benefits in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Impact of a donor source on adult Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a retrospective analysis from the Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Working Group of the Japan Society for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

BACKGROUND

We aimed to clarify the impact of the donor source of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) on Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia [Ph(-) ALL] with focus on cord blood (CB).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed data of 1726 patients who underwent myeloablative allo-SCT for adult Ph(-) ALL. The sources of the allo-SCT were related donors (RD; N = 684), unrelated donors (URD; N = 809), and CB (N = 233).

RESULTS

Overall survival (OS) in patients after CB allo-SCT in first complete remission (CR1) was comparable with that after RD or URD allo-SCT (RD: 65%, URD: 64% and CB: 57% at 4 years, P = 0.11). CB was not a significant risk factor for relapse or non-relapse mortality as well as for OS in multivariate analyses. Similarly, the donor source was not a significant risk factor for OS in subsequent CR or non-CR (RD: 47%, URD: 39% and CB: 48% in subsequent CR, P = 0.33; RD: 15%, URD: 21% and CB: 18% in non-CR, P = 0.20 at 4 years).

CONCLUSION

Allo-SCT using CB led to OS similar to those of RD or URD in any disease status. To avoid missing the appropriate timing, CB is a favorable alternative source for adult Ph(-) ALL patients without a suitable RD or URD.

Noninvasive clinical assessment of systolic torsional motions by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease

BACKGROUND

Left ventricular torsional motion plays an important role for effective pump function. However, noninvasive clinical assessment of torsional deformations by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) has not been reported.

HYPOTHESIS

Left ventricular torsion is determined by the native orientation of the helical myocardial fibers, such that it might provide better assessment of myocardial function than conventional methods.

ANIMALS

Sixty-seven client-owned dogs with MMVD were classified into 3 classes based on the International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council classification and 16 weight- and age-matched healthy dogs.

METHODS

Dogs were examined for myocardial deformations by 2D-STE and were evaluated for peak systolic rotation and rotation rate at each basal and apical view. Dogs also were evaluated for peak systolic torsion and torsion rate.

RESULTS

Peak systolic torsion was higher in class II than in class I (P < .001) dogs. Peak systolic torsion was lower in class III than in class II (P = .001) dogs and controls (P = .003).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

Torsional deformations assessed by 2D-STE differed among clinical classes of MMVD. Myocardial torsional deformations by 2D-STE may provide more detailed assessment of contractile function in dogs with MMVD.