IL-28B (IFN-λ3) and IFN-α synergistically inhibit HCV replication

Genetic variation in the IL-28B (interleukin-28B; interferon lambda 3) region has been associated with sustained virological response (SVR) rates in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with peginterferon-α and ribavirin. However, the mechanisms by which polymorphisms in the IL-28B gene region affect host antiviral responses are not well understood. Using the HCV 1b and 2a replicon system, we compared the effects of IFN-λs and IFN-α on HCV RNA replication. The anti-HCV effect of IFN-λ3 and IFN-α in combination was also assessed. Changes in gene expression induced by IFN-λ3 and IFN-α were compared using cDNA microarray analysis. IFN-λs at concentrations of 1 ng/mL or more exhibited concentration- and time-dependent HCV inhibition. In combination, IFN-λ3 and IFN-α had a synergistic anti-HCV effect; however, no synergistic enhancement was observed for interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE) activity or upregulation of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). With respect to the time course of ISG upregulation, the peak of IFN-λ3-induced gene expression occurred later and lasted longer than that induced by IFN-α. In addition, although the genes upregulated by IFN-α and IFN-λ3 were similar to microarray analysis, interferon-stimulated gene expression appeared early and was prolonged by combined administration of these two IFNs. In conclusion, IFN-α and IFN-λ3 in combination showed synergistic anti-HCV activity in vitro. Differences in time-dependent upregulation of these genes might contribute to the synergistic antiviral activity.

Levels of the oxidative stress marker γ-glutamyltranspeptidase at different stages of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated oxidative stress in the liver, by determining hepatic expression and serum levels of γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in different stages of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and assessed whether GGT can differentiate between the various stages of NAFLD.

METHODS

Expression of GGT and 8-OHdG was examined in biopsy specimens by immunohistochemistry, and serum GGT and 8-OHdG levels were measured by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assays in patients with simple fatty liver (n = 10), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH; n = 10) and, as a control, in alcoholic liver disease (ALD; n = 10).

RESULTS

Hepatic tissue expression of GGT and 8-OHdG was seen in ALD, NASH and fatty liver patients. The percentage of hepatocytes positive for 8-OHdG expression and serum 8-OHdG levels was significantly higher in patients with NASH than simple fatty liver. Serum GGT levels were increased in all cases with ALD, NASH and fatty liver, and correlated significantly with serum levels of 8-OHdG in ALD and NASH, but not in simple fatty liver.

CONCLUSIONS

Levels of GGT in fatty liver patients may compensate for mild oxidative stress by repressing 8-OHdG levels and preventing progression to NASH; however further oxidative stress leads to increased levels of 8-OHdG and the development of NASH.

Effect of cilostazol in preventing restenosis after carotid artery stenting using the carotid wallstent: a multicenter retrospective study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Restenosis after CAS is a postoperative problem, with a reported frequency of approximately 2%-8%. However differences in stent design, procedure, and the antiplatelet agent appear to affect the incidence of restenosis. We assessed the frequency of restenosis and the effect of the antiplatelet agent CLZ in preventing restenosis after CAS by the standard procedure using the CWS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between May 2010 and October 2011, 62 lesions in 60 consecutive patients underwent CAS using the CWS at 4 medical institutions, and all patients were followed clinically and assessed by sonography, 3D-CTA, or angiography at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Restenosis was defined as ≥50% stenosis. The incidence of restenosis and the variation in the incidence of restenosis by the difference in type of antiplatelet agent between the CLZ group (n = 30; aspirin, 100 mg, and CLZ, 200 mg) and the non-CLZ group (n = 32; aspirin, 100 mg, and clopidogrel, 75 mg [n = 29]; or ticlopidine, 100 mg [n = 2] or 200 mg [n = 1]) were retrospectively investigated. Two antiplatelet agents were given starting 1 week preoperatively until at least 3 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

Restenosis occurred in 5 patients (8.3%), but all were cases of asymptomatic lesions in the follow-up period. All 5 patients with restenosis were in the non-CLZ group, with no cases of restenosis in the CLZ group; the difference was significant (P = .0239).

CONCLUSIONS

The restenosis rate after CAS by using the CWS was 8.3%. CLZ was associated with significant inhibition of restenosis.

Recurrence risk factors in patients with the Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome in Japan

The Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome is a form of recurrent uveitis with often a poor long-term visual acuity. The risk factors for recurrence of the VKH syndrome were investigated statistically by using a multiple logistic regression model. The clinical data of 87 patients were used for the statistical analysis. Among them, 58 patients (66.8%) had no recurrences, while 29 patients (33.3%) had recurrences. By multiple logistic regression analysis, dysacousia (p<0.01), cutaneous manifestations (p<0. 05), prodromal symptoms (p<0. 05), onset to treatment interval (days) (p<0. 05) and retinal detachment (p<0. 01) were significantly and independently associated with the recurrence. The Relapse Score was constructed by using a logistic model as follows: Relapse Score=+1. 459X (Dysacousia) + 1. 458x (Cutaneous manifestations) +0. 032x (Onset to treatment interval) -1. 637x (Prodromal symptoms) -1. 773x (Retinal detachment)+1. 247. It is supposed that the Relapse Score might be helpful for predicting the clinical course and modifying the dose or duration of systemic steroid therapy of the patients with the VKH syndrome.

Evaluation of an automatic fogging disinfection unit

A new fogging disinfection method was evaluated as a means of disinfecting ward rooms and operating theaters. A temporary room was established where the disinfection effect of fogging was examined. Based on the results, an automatic fogging disinfection unit was developed. This unit was then used in the disinfection of operating theaters, where its safety and effectiveness were examined.To evaluate the results of disinfection, bacterial culture tests were performed on the floor, walls and other areas of the operating theater, and the number of colony forming units was used as an index of effectiveness. Benzalkonium chloride, alkyldiaminoethylglycine, sodium hypochlorite, glutaral and acidic electrolytic water were used for the operating theaters. The average disinfection effect was 90% or better for all disinfectants, except acidic electrolytic water.The newly developed automatic fogging disinfection unit enables safe and effective disinfection, and may be suitable for disinfecting ward rooms and operating theaters.

Design of the polarization multi-pass Thomson scattering system

A novel configuration of the multi-pass Thomson scattering (TS) system is proposed to improve the time resolution and accuracy of electron temperature measurements by use of a polarization control technique. This configuration can realize a perfect coaxial multi-passing at each pass, and the number of round trips is not limited by the optical configuration. To confirm the feasibility of the new method, we installed this system in the GAMMA 10 plasma system. As a result, the integrated scattering signal of the double-pass configuration is about two times larger than that of the single-pass configuration. These results are in good agreement with the design.

Development of polarization-controlled multi-pass Thomson scattering system in the GAMMA 10 tandem mirror

In the GAMMA 10 tandem mirror, the typical electron density is comparable to that of the peripheral plasma of torus-type fusion devices. Therefore, an effective method to increase Thomson scattering (TS) signals is required in order to improve signal quality. In GAMMA 10, the yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG)-TS system comprises a laser, incident optics, light collection optics, signal detection electronics, and a data recording system. We have been developing a multi-pass TS method for a polarization-based system based on the GAMMA 10 YAG TS. To evaluate the effectiveness of the polarization-based configuration, the multi-pass system was installed in the GAMMA 10 YAG-TS system, which is capable of double-pass scattering. We carried out a Rayleigh scattering experiment and applied this double-pass scattering system to the GAMMA 10 plasma. The integrated scattering signal was made about twice as large by the double-pass system.

Subarachnoid hyperattenuation on flat panel detector-based conebeam CT immediately after uneventful coil embolization of unruptured intracranial aneurysms

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Flat panel detector-based CBCT can provide CT-like images of the brain without transferring patients from the angiography suite to a conventional CT facility. Conventional brain CT after uneventful endovascular treatment sometimes shows focal subarachnoid hyperattenuation with contrast leakage, mimicking SAH. Differentiating this finding from SAH is important for immediate postprocedural medical management. We investigated CBCT for detecting subarachnoid hyperattenuation immediately after coil embolization of unruptured cerebral aneurysms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-six patients with unruptured cerebral aneurysms undergoing CBCT immediately after uncomplicated coil embolization were included. The relationship between the presence of subarachnoid hyperattenuation and total volume of contrast medium injected, aneurysm size and location, and balloon and stent assistance during embolization was investigated. Statistical analyses were performed with the χ(2) test (P < .05).

RESULTS

Nine of the 36 patients (25.0%) showed focal subarachnoid hyperattenuation within the relevant parent artery territory harboring the aneurysm. Subarachnoid hyperattenuation locations included the ipsilateral superior frontal sulcus (n = 5), the bilateral superior frontal sulcus (n = 1), and the ipsilateral superior frontal and precentral sulci (n = 3). Statistically significant differences were observed between the presence of a subarachnoid hyperattenuation and the total volume of contrast medium injected (P < .001) and aneurysm size (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Subarachnoid hyperattenuation can be detected by CBCT immediately after coil embolization for unruptured aneurysms. The increased amounts of contrast medium to be given before CBCT and the specific location of the hyperattenuation may help differentiate benign subarachnoid contrast leakage from SAH.

Combination of elastography and tissue quantification using the acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) technology for differential diagnosis of breast masses

PURPOSE

We evaluated the diagnostic performance of elastography and tissue quantification using acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) technology for differential diagnosis of breast masses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

There were 161 mass lesions. First, lesion correspondence on ARFI elastographic images to those on the B-mode images was evaluated: no findings on ARFI images (pattern 1), lesions that were bright inside (pattern 2), lesions that were dark inside (pattern 4), lesions that contained both bright and dark areas (pattern 3). In addition, pattern 4 was subdivided into 4a (dark area same as B-mode lesion) and 4b (dark area larger than lesion). Next, shear wave velocity (SWV) was measured using virtual touch tissue quantification.

RESULTS

There were 13 pattern 1 lesions and five pattern 2 lesions; all of these lesions were benign, whereas all pattern 4b lesions (n = 43) were malignant. When the value of 3.59 m/s was chosen as the cutoff value, the combination of elastography and tissue quantification showed 91 % (83-91) sensitivity, 93 % (65-70) specificity, and 92 % (148-161) accuracy.

CONCLUSION

The combination of elastography and tissue quantification is thought to be a promising ultrasound technique for differential diagnosis of breast-mass lesions.

Elastic constants of langasite and alpha quartz at high temperatures measured by antenna transmission acoustic resonance

A method for measuring elastic constants of piezoelectric materials at high temperature up to 1224 K is proposed. It determines all independent elastic constants by measuring resonance frequencies of a rectangular parallelepiped piezoelectric specimen contactlessly using its own piezoelectricity with an antenna. Without using conventional contacting piezoelectric transducers, vibrational sources are excited directly in the specimen by the oscillating electric field. Capability of the method is demonstrated by measuring the elastic constants of langasite at high temperature up to 1224 K, and temperature coefficients of the elastic constants are determined. In addition, elastic constants of alpha quartz are measured at high temperature up to just below the alpha-beta phase transition temperature. Considering the local deformation with temperature increment, an interpretation based on the strain energy reduction is proposed for the unusual temperature dependence of C(66). Furthermore, the internal-friction tensor is measured, and the relationship between the observed anisotropy in internal friction and the structural evolution with temperature increment is discussed.

Correlation of circulating dehydroepiandrosterone with activated protein C generation and carotid intima-media thickness in male patients with type 2 diabetes

AIMS

Dehydroepiandrosterone exerts a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases. However, the relationship of dehydroepiandrosterone with the anticoagulant factor activated protein C, generated by the thrombin-thrombomodulin complex on vascular endothelial cells, remains unknown. This study aimed at studying the relationship between dehydroepiandrosterone and activated protein C generation in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Sixty-two male patients with Type 2 diabetes were enrolled in this study. Data obtained from 40 healthy male subjects were used as controls. The plasma levels of dehydroepiandrosterone, the activated protein C-protein C inhibitor complex, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were measured by enzyme immunoassays. Carotid intima-media thickness was measured by ultrasonography.

RESULTS

The plasma levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (5.15 ± 2.81 vs. 3.76 ± 2.16 ng/ml; P < 0.005) and the activated protein C-protein C inhibitor complex (1.90 ± 1.07 vs. 1.02 ± 0.51 ng/ml; P < 0.001) were significantly lower in patients with diabetes than in normal subjects. Univariate analysis showed a significant correlation of the plasma level of dehydroepiandrosterone with that of the activated protein C-protein C inhibitor complex (r = 0.48, P < 0.001), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (r = -0.30, P < 0.05) and with the mean intima-media thickness (r = -0.28, P < 0.05) in patients with diabetes. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that the plasma level of dehydroepiandrosterone is significantly correlated with the plasma levels of the activated protein C-protein C inhibitor complex (F = 18.06) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (F = 4.94). There was no correlation between the plasma levels of dehydroepiandrosterone and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that lower circulating levels of dehydroepiandrosterone are associated with decreased activated protein C generation and higher intima-media thickness in patients with Type 2 diabetes.