Greater milk intake is associated with lower bone turnover, higher bone density, and higher bone microarchitecture index in a population of elderly Japanese men with relatively low dietary calcium intake: Fujiwara-kyo Osteoporosis Risk in Men (FORMEN) Study

The effects of milk intake on bone health are not clear in elderly Asian men with low dietary calcium intake. This study showed that greater milk intake is associated with lower bone turnover, higher bone density, and higher bone microarchitecture index in community-dwelling elderly Japanese men.

INTRODUCTION

The consumption of milk or dairy products is widely recommended for maintaining bone health regardless of gender or age. However, little evidence exists on the beneficial effects of milk intake on bone health in elderly Japanese men characterized with relatively low dietary calcium intake. Here we examined whether or not greater milk intake was associated with lower bone turnover, higher bone density, and stronger bone microarchitecture in community-dwelling elderly Japanese men.

METHODS

Interviews were conducted to obtain information on medical history and lifestyle, including the amount of habitual milk intake, nutrient intake calculations based on a 1-week food diary, and measurements of areal bone mineral density (aBMD) at the lumbar spine (LS), total hip (TH), and femoral neck (FN) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), trabecular bone score (TBS) using DXA images at LS, and biochemical markers of bone turnover in sera. Participants with a history of diseases or medications that affect bone metabolism, or with missing data, were excluded from the analysis.

RESULTS

The median intake of milk in the 1479 participants (mean age, 73.0 ± 5.1 years) was one glass of milk per day. Bone turnover markers showed a decreasing trend (p < 0.05) and aBMD at TH (p = 0.0019) and FN (p = 0.0057) and TBS (p = 0.0017) showed increasing trends with greater milk intake after adjusting for demographic and behavioral confounding factors. This association was attenuated after further adjusting for nutrient intake, in particular, calcium intake.

CONCLUSIONS

Greater milk intake was associated with lower bone turnover, higher aBMD, and higher TBS in community-dwelling elderly Japanese men.

Delineation of clinical features in Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome caused by KMT2A mutations

Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome (WSS) is an autosomal dominant congenital anomaly syndrome characterized by hairy elbows, dysmorphic facial appearances (hypertelorism, thick eyebrows, downslanted and vertically narrow palpebral fissures), pre- and post-natal growth deficiency, and psychomotor delay. WSS is caused by heterozygous mutations in KMT2A (also known as MLL), a gene encoding a histone methyltransferase. Here, we identify six novel KMT2A mutations in six WSS patients, with four mutations occurring de novo. Interestingly, some of the patients were initially diagnosed with atypical Kabuki syndrome, which is caused by mutations in KMT2D or KDM6A, genes also involved in histone methylation. KMT2A mutations and clinical features are summarized in our six patients together with eight previously reported patients. Furthermore, clinical comparison of the two syndromes is discussed in detail.

The alternatively spliced actinin-4 variant as a prognostic marker for metastasis in small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

The alternatively spliced actinin-4 variant (ACTN4va) is expressed in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and is thought to be a potential diagnostic marker. However, ACTN4va expression has not been examined in transbronchial biopsy specimens.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively examined the relationship between ACTN4va expression, clinical factors and survival in 104 consecutive newly-diagnosed SCLC patients.

RESULTS

Of the 104 screened cases, 83 (median age=69 years; transbronchial biopsy, 71) were included in our study. Survival was significantly different in the group with no distant metastasis (1996 vs. 422 days, respectively; p=0.000115) but was not significantly different with regard to ACTN4va expression in the group with distant metastasis (293 vs. 254 days, respectively; p=0.678).

CONCLUSION

ACTN4va expression was identifiable in small biopsy samples. ACTN4va expression was also significantly related to distant metastasis and could stratify SCLC patients according to prognosis.

A nanoparticle formulation of disulfiram prolongs corneal residence time of the drug and reduces intraocular pressure

The goal in the search for successful therapies for glaucoma is the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP), and the search for effective eye drops that reduce IOP is a high priority. We previously reported the potential of a 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) solution containing 0.5% DSF (DSF solution) to provide effective anti-glaucoma treatment in eye drop form. In this study, we designed new ophthalmic formulations containing 0.5% DSF nanoparticles prepared by a bead mill method (DSFnano dispersion; particle size 183 ± 92 nm, mean ± S.D.), and compared the IOP-reducing effects of a DSFnano dispersion with those of a DSF solution. The high stability of the DSFnano dispersion was observed until 7 days after preparation, and the DSFnano dispersion showed high antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739). In transcorneal penetration experiments using rabbit corneas, only diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) was detected in the aqueous humor, while no DSF was detected. The DDC penetration level (area under the curve, AUC) and corneal residence time (mean residence time, MRT) of the DSFnano dispersion were approximately 1.45- and 1.44-fold higher than those of the DSF, respectively. Moreover, the IOP-reducing effects of the DSFnano dispersion were significantly greater than those of the DSF solution in rabbits (the IOP was enhanced by placing the rabbits in a dark room for 5 h). In addition, DSFnano dispersion are tolerated better by a corneal epithelial cell than DSF solution and commercially available timolol maleate eye drops. It is possible that dispersions containing DSF nanoparticles will provide new possibilities for the effective treatment of glaucoma, and that an ocular drug delivery system using drug nanoparticles may expand their usage as therapy in the ophthalmologic field. These findings provide significant information that can be used to design further studies aimed at developing anti-glaucoma drugs.

A Rare Case of Pleomorphic Carcinoma of the Lung Harboring an Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) Rearrangement

Molecular testing for anomalies, such as epidermal growth factor receptor mutations and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement, is part of the current standard of care for non-small cell lung cancer, particularly adenocarcinoma. ALK rearrangement occurs most frequently in adenocarcinoma cells and rarely in non-adenocarcinoma cells. We herein report a rare case of pleomorphic lung carcinoma with ALK rearrangement in both its adenocarcinoma and spindle cell components. This case suggests the possibility of ALK rearrangement in pleomorphic carcinoma.

Nanoparticle Albumin-bound Paclitaxel+Carboplatin Therapy for Small Cell Lung Cancer Combined with Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Interstitial Lung Disease

It has recently been shown that nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-PAC)+carboplatin (CBDCA) provides a favorable overall response rate in non-small cell lung cancer. This is the first case report of nab-PAC+CBDCA therapy in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Our patient was a 72-year-old man with stage IV SCLC combined with squamous cell carcinoma and interstitial lung disease (ILD). We administered nab-PAC+CBDCA as a second-line chemotherapy. A partial response was evident after two cycles of chemotherapy, and no serious side effects occurred. The progression-free survival was 15 weeks. Second-line chemotherapy using nab-PAC+CBDCA was effective and well tolerated in an SCLC patient with ILD.

Retrospective study of changes in the sensitivity of the oral mucosa: sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) versus intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy (IVRO)

We investigated changes in the sensitivity of cutaneous points and the oral mucosa after sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) and assessed the differences between SSRO and intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy (IVRO). The subjects included in this study were 46 patients with mandibular prognathism who underwent IVRO (88 rami) and 30 patients who underwent SSRO (59 rami). An objective evaluation of the neurosensory status of each patient was completed preoperatively and at 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks postoperatively. Other variables studied for each patient included sex, age, magnitude of mandibular setback, and amount of blood loss during surgery. We found that a neurosensory recovery occurred earlier in the oral mucosa than at cutaneous points. The number of oral mucosa points showing reduced neurosensory function and neurosensory disturbance after SSRO was significantly higher than after IVRO at 1, 4, and 8 weeks (P<0.05). The nerve recovery observed after SSRO was delayed for a longer period than that noted in our previous study of IVRO. In conclusion, we found changes in sensitivity at cutaneous points and the oral mucosa after SSRO and assessed the differences between SSRO and IVRO.

[Denosumab for bone metastasis of thoracic tumors-preparation of a practice manual and evaluation of its effectiveness]

The anti-receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand (RANKL) antibody denosumab is thought to be useful in the improvement of the quality of life of patients with bone metastasis from thoracic tumors, given the ease of its subcutaneous administration. However, attention has to paid to the onset of hypocalcemia when determining the optimal dosage, especially since data and methods on its prevention are limited. Our project team monitored serum calcium levels in patients receiving denosumab treatment, evaluated methods to supplement calcium and vitamin D in cases of hypocalcemia, and developed an evidence-based common manual. Subsequently, denosumab administration and hypocalcemia were evaluated as per the manual. Grade 3 hypocalcemia was observed in 2 cases before the preparation, with no new cases seen since adopting the new protocol in the manual. We conclude that the development of severe hypocalcemia associated with denosumab treatment can be avoided by prompt management of this condition in the early stages and by adopting measures listed in the practice manual.

Effect of Eye Drops Containing Disulfiram and Low-Substituted Methylcellulose in Reducing Intraocular Pressure in Rabbit Models

PURPOSE

We attempted to develop anti-glaucoma eye drops using 0.5% disulfiram (DSF), 5% 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, 0.1% hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, and 2% methylcellulose (MC) (DSF eye drops with MC), and tested the ability of a DSF eye drops with MC to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) in rabbit models.

METHODS

Elevated IOP was induced by the rapid infusion of 5% glucose solution (15 ml/kg of body weight) through the marginal ear vein or by keeping rabbits in the dark for 5 h. IOP and the nitric oxide (NO) level in the aqueous humor were measured with an electronic tonometer and by a microdialysis method, respectively. ΔIOP and ΔNO values were analyzed as the differences in IOP and NO in rabbits instilled with saline or eye drops, respectively.

RESULTS

Increased IOP in rabbit models was reduced by the instillation of DSF eye drops with or without MC, and a close relationship was observed between IOP and NO levels in rabbit receiving a rapid infusion of isotonic glucose. We present kinetic parameters [secondary AUC (prolonged drug effect) and secondary MRT (prolonged effective time)] analyzed as the area under the curve (AUC) of ΔIOP or ΔNO versus time using rabbits instilled with eye drops 10, 50, or 90 min prior to the infusion of the isotonic glucose solution. The elevations in IOP and NO level were reduced by the instillation of DSF eye drops with or without MC; the addition of MC increased the secondary AUC and MRT of DSF eye drops.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrates that 0.5% DSF eye drops suppress increased IOP in rabbit models, probably by inhibiting the elevation in NO levels. In addition, we propose a kinetic analysis method to predict drug effects and effective time. These findings suggest that a low-substituted MC-based drug delivery system promotes drug effectiveness and effective time.

Comparison of the clinical courses and chemotherapy outcomes in metastatic colorectal cancer patients with and without active Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Mycobacterium kansasii infection: a retrospective study

Background

Although active Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) or Mycobacterium Kansasii (MK) infection could be present in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (m-CRC), no study is available on the clinical courses and chemotherapy outcomes of these patients. The present study therefore aimed to retrospectively examine whether m-CRC patients with and without active MTB or MK infection could receive cancer chemotherapy similarly.

Methods

This study enrolled 30 m-CRC patients who received first-line chemotherapy between January 31, 2006 and January 31, 2013 at our institution, The clinical courses and tumor response of those with and without active MTB or MK infection were examined and compared.

Results

Of 30 m-CRC patients, 6 had active MTB infection, 1 with active MK and the other 23 had neither MTB nor MK. No significant demographic differences were observed between patients with MTB or MK and those without. Chemotherapy response rates of all patients, those with MTB or MK, and those without were 40.0%, 28.6% and 43.5%, respectively. Among patients with MTB or MK, 1 treated with bevacizumab experienced grade-3 hemoptysis while others did not report any severe toxicity. Median survival time of all studied patients, those with MTB or MK, and those without was 26.3, 36.7 and 22.6 months, respectively. No significant difference in overall survival was observed between patients with MTB or MK and those without. Multivariate analysis revealed that performance status and liver metastasis were significant prognostic factors of overall survival (P = 0.004 and 0.030, respectively), whereas other factors, including MTB or MK infection, were not. In our study, all 7 patients with MTB or MK did not experience infection relapse during or after cancer chemotherapy.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that m-CRC patients with MTB or MK should be able to safely and effectively continue cancer chemotherapy to subsequently achieve comparable survival duration to those without the infection if they receive proper MTB or MK treatment.

Sequential occlusion of the branch retinal artery and branch retinal vein in a patient with hypertension: an interventional case report

Background

There are some cases that reported central retinal vein occlusion accompanied by ciliary artery occlusion, however, combined branch retinal artery and vein occlusion is a rare condition that has been infrequently reported. We describe in this report one case of retinal vein occlusion and branch retinal artery occlusion occurring simultaneously.

Case presentation

A 50 year-old woman presented with acute visual loss in her right eye. Fundus photography showed retinal ischemia and tortuous, dilated retinal veins in the right eye. With early phase fluorescein angiography, retinal arteries revealed areas absent of branches. Late phase fluorescein angiography demonstrated that areas absent of branches were still present.

Conclusion

It is a rare case of branch retinal artery and vein occlusion.

Landolt ring-shaped epithelial keratopathy: a novel clinical entity of the cornea

IMPORTANCE

Landolt ring-shaped epithelial keratopathy is a newly identified disease with vesicular changes of unknown origin in the epithelial cells.

OBSERVATIONS

Eleven Japanese patients with specific epithelial lesions that resembled a Landolt ring in the corneal epithelium were assessed. The main symptoms of Landolt ring-shaped epithelial keratopathy are foreign-body sensation and photophobia. Slitlamp examination indicates that Landolt ring-shaped lesions located only in the corneal epithelium are randomly distributed and occur unilaterally, bilaterally, or asymmetrically. Small lesions are sometimes connected to each other to form a large Landolt ring in a fractal pattern. Confocal microscopy reveals that the Landolt ring lesions are vesicular changes in the epithelial cells from the basal cell layer to the superficial cell layer without inflammation. The lesions form for weeks to months with sporadic exacerbations and natural remissions with or without treatments. The outcomes do not include epithelial disorders in the affected corneas or visual disruptions.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

We describe a new disease entity of unknown origin referred to as Landolt ring-shaped epithelial keratopathy, which is usually bilateral and characterized by specific Landolt ring-shaped focal epithelial lesions with vesicular changes only in the epithelial cells. The disorder has an insidious onset and self-limiting nature despite treatment and should be included in the differential diagnosis of corneal epithelial disorders.

Electric control of the spin Hall effect by intervalley transitions

Controlling spin-related material properties by electronic means is a key step towards future spintronic technologies. The spin Hall effect (SHE) has become increasingly important for generating, detecting and using spin currents, but its strength--quantified in terms of the SHE angle--is ultimately fixed by the magnitude of the spin-orbit coupling (SOC) present for any given material system. However, if the electrons generating the SHE can be controlled by populating different areas (valleys) of the electronic structure with different SOC characteristic the SHE angle can be tuned directly within a single sample. Here we report the manipulation of the SHE in bulk GaAs at room temperature by means of an electrical intervalley transition induced in the conduction band. The spin Hall angle was determined by measuring an electromotive force driven by photoexcited spin-polarized electrons drifting through GaAs Hall bars. By controlling electron populations in different (Γ and L) valleys, we manipulated the angle from 0.0005 to 0.02. This change by a factor of 40 is unprecedented in GaAs and the highest value achieved is comparable to that of the heavy metal Pt.

Autosomal recessive cystinuria caused by genome-wide paternal uniparental isodisomy in a patient with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome

Approximately 20% of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) cases are caused by mosaic paternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 11 (pUPD11). Although pUPD11 is usually limited to the short arm of chromosome 11, a small minority of BWS cases show genome-wide mosaic pUPD (GWpUPD). These patients show variable clinical features depending on mosaic ratio, imprinting status of other chromosomes, and paternally inherited recessive mutations. To date, there have been no reports of a mosaic GWpUPD patient with an autosomal recessive disease caused by a paternally inherited recessive mutation. Here, we describe a patient concurrently showing the clinical features of BWS and autosomal recessive cystinuria. Genetic analyses revealed that the patient has mosaic GWpUPD and an inherited paternal homozygous mutation in SLC7A9. This is the first report indicating that a paternally inherited recessive mutation can cause an autosomal recessive disease in cases of GWpUPD mosaicism. Investigation into recessive mutations and the dysregulation of imprinting domains is critical in understanding precise clinical conditions of patients with mosaic GWpUPD.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis contributes to articular cartilage degeneration via C/EBP homologous protein

OBJECTIVE

When endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, i.e., the excessive accumulation of unfolded proteins in ER, endangers homeostasis, apoptosis is induced by C/EBP homologous protein (Chop). In osteoarthritis (OA) cartilage, Chop expression and apoptosis increase as degeneration progresses. We investigated the role of Chop in murine chondrocyte apoptosis and in the progression of cartilage degeneration.

METHOD

We induced experimental OA in Chop-knockout (Chop(-/-)) mice by medial collateral ligament transection and meniscectomy and compared cartilage degeneration, apoptosis, and ER stress in Chop(-/-)- and wild-type (Chop(+/+)) mice. In our in vitro experiments we treated murine Chop(-/-) chondrocytes with the ER stress inducer tunicamycin (TM) and evaluated apoptosis, ER stress, and chondrocyte function.

RESULTS

In vivo, the degree of ER stress was similar in Chop(-/-)- and Chop(+/+) mice. However, in Chop(-/-) mice apoptosis and cartilage degeneration were lower by 26.4% and 42.4% at 4 weeks, by 26.8% and 44.9% at 8 weeks, and by 26.9% and 32.3% at 12 weeks after surgery than Chop(+/+) mice, respectively. In vitro, the degree of ER stress induction by TM was similar in Chop(-/-)- and Chop(+/+) chondrocytes. On the other hand, apoptosis was 55.3% lower and the suppression of collagen type II and aggrecan mRNA was 21.0% and 23.3% less, and the increase of matrix metalloproteinase-13 mRNA was 20.0% less in Chop(-/-)- than Chop(+/+) chondrocytes.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that Chop plays a direct role in chondrocyte apoptosis and that Chop-mediated apoptosis contributes to the progression of cartilage degeneration in mice.

Relationship between progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with anticancer agents after first-line treatment failure

AIM

The hazard ratio of progression-free survival (PFS-HR) generally does not reflect that of overall survival (OS-HR) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with first-line therapy. Short survival post-progression (SPP) better reflects the PFS-HR and OS-HR in simulations. We aimed to evaluate whether the PFS-HR reflects the OS-HR in NSCLC clinical trials for post-first-line treatments.

METHOD

We reviewed clinical studies of post-first-line anticancer agents for NSCLC. We examined the sample size of the experimental arm (EA), median PFS (mPFS) or median time to progression in the EA, median overall survival (mOS) in the EA, the PFS-HR and the OS-HR. SPP was defined as the difference between mOS and mPFS. The association between mPFS and SPP, mPFS and mOS, and the PFS-HR and OS-HR was tested. We sought for the optimal point of correlation of PFS-HR and OS-HR by every 1 month of SPP.

RESULTS

We identified 32 trials (34 arms). mPFS and mOS were weakly correlated (correlation coefficient [r] = 0.376; P = 0.0286). The PFS-HR and OS-HR were also moderately correlated (r = 0.415; P = 0.015). The maximum r value was 0.770 (SPP < 6 months; P < 0.0001) when we tested the associations between the PFS-HR and OS-HR for SPP using 1-month increments. The estimated regression equation at this point was OS-HR = 0.679 × (PFS-HR) + 0.349.

CONCLUSION

The PFS-HR and OS-HR were strongly correlated in advanced NSCLC patients treated with post-first-line anticancer agents, with a SPP of less than 6 months.

Important factors for achieving survival of five years or more in non-small cell lung cancer patients with distant metastasis

In order to examine which factors were important for achieving a ≥5 year survival time in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with distant metastasis, 268 NSCLC patients who received first-line chemotherapy between January 2004 and December 2007 were retrospectively examined. The median survival time of the patients was 14 months, with 22 surviving for ≥5 years, 48 for ≥2 years, but <5 years, and 198 surviving <2 years. Multivariate analysis determined that never having smoked, a good performance status, relapse following thoracic surgery and intra-thoracic metastasis were significantly favorable prognostic factors, while abdominal metastasis was a significantly poor prognostic factor. The ≥5 years and ≥2–5 years groups had significantly more favorable prognostic factors than the <2 years group. The never-smoked status was a particularly important factor for ≥5 years of survival. The ≥5 years and ≥2–5 years groups achieved a significantly more favorable response to first-line chemotherapy, and a greater number of regimens, total months of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment and cytotoxic agent treatment cycles compared with the <2 years group. In total, ~50% of the patients received palliative radiotherapy. In the ≥5 years group, patients with EGFR drug-sensitive mutations achieved ≥5 years of survival mainly by EGFR-TKI therapy, while those without EGFR mutations achieved ≥5 years of survival by continuing effective cytotoxic agents. Achievement of >5 years of survival was found to correlate with the presence of favorable prognostic factors, response to first-line chemotherapy, provision of appropriate EGFR-TKI therapy according to genetic testing results, continuing effective cytotoxic regimens and the use of radiotherapy as local therapy.

De novo EEF1A2 mutations in patients with characteristic facial features, intellectual disability, autistic behaviors and epilepsy

Eukaryotic elongation factor 1, alpha-2 (eEF1A2) protein is involved in protein synthesis, suppression of apoptosis, and regulation of actin function and cytoskeletal structure. EEF1A2 gene is highly expressed in the central nervous system and Eef1a2 knockout mice show the neuronal degeneration. Until now, only one missense mutation (c.208G > A, p.Gly70Ser) in EEF1A2 has been reported in two independent patients with neurological disease. In this report, we described two patients with de novo mutations (c.754G > C, p.Asp252His and c.364G > A, p.Glu122Lys) in EEF1A2 found by whole-exome sequencing. Common clinical features are shared by all four individuals: severe intellectual disability, autistic behavior, absent speech, neonatal hypotonia, epilepsy and progressive microcephaly. Furthermore, the two patients share the similar characteristic facial features including a depressed nasal bridge, tented upper lip, everted lower lip and downturned corners of the mouth. These data strongly indicate that a new recognizable disorder is caused by EEF1A2 mutations.

The long-term outcome of open-wedge osteotomy of the proximal tibia with hemicallotasis

We report the long-term outcome of 33 patients (37 knees) who underwent proximal tibial open-wedge osteotomy with hemicallotasis (HCO) for medial osteoarthritis of the knee between 1995 and 2000. Among these, 29 patients with unilateral HCO were enrolled and 19 were available for review at a mean of 14.2 years (10 to 15.7) post-operatively. For these 19 patients, the mean Hospital for Special Surgery knee score was 60 (57 to 62) pre-operatively and 85 (82 to 87) at final follow-up (p < 0.001; paired t-test). The femorotibial angle and tibial inclination angle (IA) were measured at short-term follow-up, one to four years post-operatively, and showed no significant subsequent changes. The clinical scores and radiological measurements showed little change over time. One patient required conversion to total knee replacement during this time. These results suggest that the coronal angle achieved at operation is maintained at long-term follow up after HCO without alteration of the IA, providing a good long-term clinical outcome.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:467–72.

Diagnostic yield of combined bronchoscopy and endobronchial ultrasonography, under LungPoint guidance for small peripheral pulmonary lesions

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The yield of biopsy performed during bronchoscopy is reduced if the lesion is smaller than 30 mm. We evaluated the performance of a new diagnostic technique combining endobronchial ultrasonography with a guide sheath (EBUS-GS) and a virtual bronchoscopic navigation system, LungPoint (Broncus Technologies, Inc., Mountain View, CA, USA), for the diagnosis of small (≤30 mm) peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPL).

METHODS

Between May 2011 and December 2011, we recruited 68 consecutive patients presenting with a PPL 30 mm or less in diameter determined by chest computed tomography. We used the LungPoint system before bronchoscopy to identify the bronchus into which the bronchoscope should be advanced. We used a thin bronchoscope. EBUS-GS was performed using an endoscope ultrasonography system equipped with a 20-MHz mechanical radial-type probe. We used a guide sheath with an external diameter of 1.95 mm, thin forceps and brushing.

RESULTS

The diagnostic yield of the 68 PPL was 77.9%; it was 83.7% and 68.0% for the malignant and benign lesions, respectively. Notably, three cases were diagnosed by transbronchial needle-aspiration cytology alone. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the EBUS probe localization was the most significant contributor to successful diagnosis (diagnostic yield: within vs adjacent to the lesion = 92.1% vs 60.0%, respectively; P = 0.004 and P = 0.003, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of EBUS-GS and LungPoint was useful for diagnosing small PPL.

A nanoparticle formulation reduces the corneal toxicity of indomethacin eye drops and enhances its corneal permeability

Indomethacin (IMC) has been shown to reduce post-operative inflammation and to decrease intraocular irritation after cataract extraction and in cystoid macular edema; however, the clinical use of its most commonly used eye drops is limited due to topical side-effects that include burning sensation, irritation and epithelial keratitis. It is known that decreasing direct cell stimulation and reducing the amount applied via increasing bioavailability are useful for improving these issues. In this study, we designed ophthalmic formulations containing 0.5% IMC nanoparticles using zirconia beads and Bead Smash 12 (IMCnano eye drops; particle size 76 ± 59 nm, mean ± S.D.), and investigated the corneal toxicity of these IMCnano eye drops. IMCnano eye drops are tolerated better by a human cornea epithelial cell line (HCE-T) than commercially available NDSAIDs preparations (IMC, pranoprofen, diclofenac, bromfenac and nepafenac eye drops), and corneal wound healing in rat eyes with debrided corneal epithelium instilled with IMCnano eye drops is significantly better than that of eyes instilled with commercially available IMC eye drops. In addition, the accumulation of IMC in HCE-T cells treated with the IMCnano eye drops for 30 min was 19.9% that of the accumulation from commercially available IMC eye drops. On the other hand, the corneal penetration of IMC from IMCnano eye drops was significantly greater than in the case of the commercially available IMC eye drops in both in vivo and in vitro studies using rabbit corneas. Taken together, we hypothesize that a nanoparticle formulation reduces the corneal toxicity of IMC eye drops, probably because the accumulation of IMC from IMCnano eye drops in the eye is lower than that from commercially available IMC eye drops. In addition, the nanoparticle formulation may allow a decrease in the amount of IMC used due to the increase in bioavailability, resulting in reduced drug toxicity. These findings provide significant information that can be used to design further studies aimed at developing less toxic eye drops.