Clinicopathological features of graft versus host disease-associated myositis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD)-associated myositis targeting skeletal muscle is a relatively rare but potentially debilitating complication following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We reviewed the clinicopathological features of GVHD-associated myositis among patients receiving allogeneic HSCT to elucidate the cellular pathogenesis.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed clinical data and muscle biopsy results from 17 consecutive patients diagnosed with GVHD-associated myositis at our institution between 1995 and 2019. Immunostaining findings of GVHD-associated myositis were compared to those of patients with anti-tRNA-synthetase antibody-associated myopathy (ASM) (n = 13) and dermatomyositis (DM) (n = 12).

RESULTS

The majority of patients with GVHD-associated myositis showed subacute or chronic progression of mild to moderate limb weakness together with elevated serum creatine kinase. These patients also exhibited mild C-reactive protein elevation but were negative for myositis-related autoantibodies. Programmed death-1 (PD-1)-positive cells were observed in muscle interstitium adjacent to myofibers expressing human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR. The interstitium was also HLA-DR-positive, similar to biopsy samples from ASM patients but not DM patients. The proportions of HLA-DR-positive muscle fibers and PD-1-positive interstitial cells were significantly higher in GVHD and ASM samples than DM samples. The PD-1-positive cells were mostly CD-8-positive lymphocytes.

DISCUSSION

GVHD-associated myositis is characterized by HLA-DR-positive myofibers and infiltration of PD-1-positive lymphocytes. These features distinguish GVHD-associated myositis from DM but not from ASM.

Olfactory and taste dysfunctions caused by COVID-19: a nationwide study

BACKGROUND

Olfactory dysfunctions (OD) and taste dysfunctions (TD) are widely recognized as characteristic symptoms of COVID-19; however, the frequency and mode of occurrence has varied depending on the viral mutation. The prevalence and characteristics of OD/TD in Japan have not been definitively investigated. The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of OD/TD in Japan during the Alpha variant epidemic, and measure symptom prolongation at 6 months and 1 year later following initial infection.

METHODS

Patients treated for COVID-19 between February to May 2021 were evaluated for OD/TD symptoms and provided with a QOL questionnaire. Olfactory tests and taste tests were performed using Open Essence and Taste Strips, respectively.

RESULTS

Among the 251 COVID-19 patients who participated, 119 underwent both olfactory and taste tests. Prevalence of subjective OD and TD at the time of survey was 57.8% and 40.2%, respectively. After 12 months, the prevalence fell to 5.8% for OD and 3.5% for TD. Among the OD/TD patients, 36.6% experienced parosmia, and 55.4% experienced parageusia. Prevalence of parosmia and parageusia was higher at 6 and 12 months than at the time of survey. Patients with long-lasting disease reported qualitative dysfunctions and scored significantly higher in food-related QOL problems. Most patients who were aware of their hyposmia had low scores on the olfactory test (83.1%). In contrast, only 26.7% of patients who were aware of their hypogeusia had low scores on the taste test.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of COVID-19-related OD and TD at the time of survey was 57.8% and 40.2%, respectively. Subjective symptoms of OD and TD persisted for one year in 5.8% and 3.5% of patients, respectively. More than half of the patients with OD or TD complained of qualitative dysfunction and a decrease in their QOL related to eating and drinking. Most patients with TD did not have true TD, but rather developed flavour disorders associated with OD. This conclusion is supported by the finding that patients with subjective OD had low scores on the olfactory test, whereas most patients with subjective TD had normal scores on the taste test.

Treatment of refractory localized pulmonary nocardiosis caused by Nocardia mexicana with a combination of medication and surgery

Pulmonary nocardiosis is a rare disease that is often difficult to cure because of its tendency to recur. Here, we report a case of refractory localized pulmonary nocardiosis caused by Nocardia mexicana. A 60-year-old Japanese woman had recurring pulmonary nocardiosis four times previously and each time she was treated with antibiotics for a sufficient duration; nevertheless, the disease continued to recur, probably because of resistance to antibiotics. As a fifth treatment, we performed middle lobe resection and pre- and post-operative antimicrobial therapy for 6 months. The combination of medication and surgery was useful for treating refractory localized pulmonary nocardiosis.

Ku-band multichannel frequency comb Doppler reflectometer on the GAMMA 10/potential control and divertor simulating experiment (PDX) tandem mirror

A Ku-band (12-18 GHz) multichannel Doppler reflectometer (DR) has been developed in the GAMMA 10/potential control and divertor simulating experiment (PDX) tandem mirror device to improve the applicability of DR measurement for simultaneous monitoring of velocity of electron density turbulence at different locations. Our previous single-channel DR circuit has been replaced by the multichannel microwave system using a nonlinear transmission line based comb generator with heterodyne technique. The multichannel DR system has been installed in the central cell of GAMMA 10/PDX. Initial results of application to GAMMA 10/PDX plasma are presented, showing Doppler frequency shifts during an additional ion cyclotron resonance frequency heating and gas-puffing experiment.

Metabolome and transcriptome analysis on muscle of sporadic inclusion body myositis

Objective

Methods

Results

Interpretation

Iron lamination and interlaminar insulation for high-frequency pulsed magnets

In high-frequency pulsed magnets, such as kickers in particle accelerators, it is essential to reduce eddy currents that could be induced in the magnet core during excitation not to distort and attenuate the magnetic field pulse. A novel iron lamination scheme with additional interlaminar insulation is proposed for the magnet core of such pulsed magnets. A laminated steel sheet core is formed by alternately stacking thin steel and insulation sheets. For application to matched kicker magnets for accelerators, test magnets with the new and conventional iron lamination were designed, assembled, and extensively evaluated. The pulsed magnetic field waveforms of two test magnets with the new lamination successfully matched to below 0.1% over the entire pulse duration, which was significantly better than those with the conventional lamination. Among the applications of the developed high-frequency pulsed magnets, beam injection kickers for the coming next generation light sources and future colliders, where suppression of the transient stored-beam oscillation during beam injection is crucial, are considered to be promising.

Improvement in multipass Thomson scattering system comprising laser amplification system developed in GAMMA 10/PDX

The multipass Thomson scattering (MPTS) technique is one of the most useful methods for measuring low-electron-density plasmas. The MPTS system increases Thomson scattering (TS) signal intensities by integrating all multipass (MP) signals and improving the TS time resolution by analyzing each pass signal. The fully coaxial MPTS system developed in GAMMA 10/potential-control and diverter-simulator experiments has a polarization-based configuration with image-relaying optics. The MPTS system can enhance Thomson scattered signals for improving the measurement accuracy and megahertz-order time resolution. In this study, we develop a new MPTS system comprising a laser amplification system to obtain continuous MP signals. The laser amplification system can improve degraded laser power and return an amplified laser to the MP system. We obtain continuous MP signals from the laser amplification system by improving the laser beam profile adjuster in gas scattering experiments. Moreover, we demonstrate that more MP signals and stronger amplified MP signals can be achieved via multiple laser injections to the laser amplification system in the developed MP system comprising a laser amplification system.

Bilateral atypical ulnar fractures occurring after long-term treatment with bisphosphonate for 7 years and with teriparatide for 2 years: a case report

Most atypical fractures associated with the long-term treatment with bisphosphonates (BP) commonly develop in the femoral shaft or subtrochanteric region. We report a rare case of bilateral atypical ulnar fractures in an 86-year-old woman with osteoporosis who finished the treatment with teriparatide for 2 years after long-term treatment with BP. She slid down from an approximately 30-cm-tall seat and slightly contused her left elbow. Plain radiography revealed that both ulnae had a noncomminuted short oblique fracture with cortical thickening and sclerosis at the fracture site. Based on the clinical and radiological findings, she was diagnosed with bilateral atypical ulnar fractures. The fracture of the left ulna was completely displaced and treated surgically. On the other hand, since the right ulna was an incomplete fracture, it was treated conservatively. During surgery, drilling with Kirschner wire and curettage were performed in the osteosclerotic lesion, and an autologous cancellous bone graft was inserted from the ipsilateral olecranon. Bone union was achieved in both fractures at 1 year after surgery. There have been no reports regarding the development of atypical ulnar fractures occurring after the long-term treatment with BP and 2-year use of teriparatide, and the treatment strategies of such fractures have not been established. If teriparatide cannot be used after occurring atypical fractures, the use of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) and subsequent treatment for osteoporosis are recommended for the bone union. In addition, the treatment of the osteosclerotic lesion and rigid internal fixation are required in surgery.

Correction to: Bilateral atypical ulnar fractures occurring after long-term treatment with bisphosphonate for 7 years and with teriparatide for 2 years: a case report

The original version of this article, published on 10 September 2020 contained a mistake.

Microwave frequency comb Doppler reflectometer applying fast digital data acquisition system in LHD

We succeeded in increasing the radial observation points of the microwave frequency comb Doppler reflectometer system from 8 to 20 (or especially up to 45) using the high sampling rate of 40 GS/s digital signal processing. For a new acquisition system, the estimation scheme of the Doppler shifted frequency is constructed and compared with the conventional technique. Also, the fine radial profile of perpendicular velocity is obtained, and it is found that the perpendicular velocity profile is consistent with the E × B drift velocity one.

Abstract P2-01-09: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the venous drainage of the breast in patients with primary breast cancer

Background:

CTCs are shed from tumors and circulate in the peripheral blood after passing through the drainage vein. Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) provides access to the lateral thoracic vein which flows directly into the axillary vein. In this preliminary study, we evaluated the feasibility of detecting CTCs in the peripheral blood and in the lateral thoracic venous blood for breast cancer patients who underwent ALND.

Methods:

From June 2016 to March 2017, breast cancer patients who underwent ALND in our institute were eligible for this study. A peripheral blood sample,10ml, was drawn just before the surgery or one day before the surgery. A lateral thoracic venous blood sample was taken from the resected breast just after resection. A blood sample of 0.2ml or more was necessary for CTC isolation. The CTCs in the peripheral blood before surgery (periCTC) and in the blood from the lateral thoracic vein of the resected breast (ltvCTC) were quantitatively examined by using a size-selective CTC isolation platform.

Results:

A total of 21 patients with median age 51 years (37-75) were enrolled to the study. Of the 21 patients, 38% were premenopausal, 52% had neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Fifty-seven percent were ER and/or PgR positive, 24% were HER2 positive. Fifty-seven percent were stage II disease and 43% were stage III. In 3 patients, we couldn't obtain sufficient blood samples from the lateral thoracic vein. Of the remaining 18 patients, we were able to obtain the median 0.5ml (0.2-2.0) blood samples from the lateral thoracic vein. CTCs were detected in peripheral blood in 15 patients (71%) and median periCTC count was 1 CTC/10ml (0-39). In lateral thoracic venous blood, CTCs were detected in all patients who had sufficient blood samples and the median ltv CTC count was 35.5 CTC/ml (2.5-370). In 5 of 6 patients whom CTCs in peripheral blood samples were not detected, CTCs could be detected in the blood samples from lateral thoracic vein.

Conclusion:

CTCs can be detected in the peripheral blood and in the blood from lateral thoracic vein in patients with localized breast cancer, and can be detected at a higher rate and at a higher concentration in the blood from lateral thoracic vein than in peripheral blood.

Citation Format: Hattori M, Nakanishi H, Yoshimura A, Adachi Y, Iwase M, Gondo N, Kotani H, Sawaki M, Yatabe Y, Iwata H. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the venous drainage of the breast in patients with primary breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-01-09.

Outcomes of peripherally inserted double lumen central catheter in very low birth weight infants

OBJECTIVE

In order to evaluate safety and usefulness of peripherally inserted double lumen central catheter (PIDLCC) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, outcomes of VLBW infants who had PIDLCC was studied.

SUBJECTIVE

Thirty-nine VLBW infants who were admitted to our NICU in 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

Mean birth weight and gestational age was 1042.7 gram and 28.5 weeks, respectively. Total duration of indwelling PIDLCC was 1121 days (mean 28.5+18.2 days) with 85 PIDLCCs used. Dressing at the insertion site was done twice weekly with 10% povidone iodine. Four (10.3% with mean of 48 days) infants had catheter-related blood stream infection (CRBSI), with a 3.57 infection per 1000 catheter-day. The mean for days of PIDLCC in 35 infants without CRBSI was 26.5 days. Organisms isolated were Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus capitis ureolytic. Our study showed significant difference in the duration of indwelling catheter (p = 0.023) and intraventricular hemorrhage (p = 0.043) between the CRBSI group and non-CRBSI group. Five (12.8%) infants had abnormal thyroid function test, in which two infants required thyroxine supplementation upon discharge. However, duration of PIDLCC and abnormal thyroid function test was not statistically significant (p = 0.218). One (2.5%) infant died (death was not related to CRBSI). There was no serious adverse effects secondary to PIDLCC.

CONCLUSION

It is concluded that the use and maintenance of PIDLCC is safe for VLBW infants, but close monitoring should be observed to detect early signs of infection.

Transforming growth factor-β signaling is upregulated in sporadic inclusion body myositis

INTRODUCTION

In this study we aimed to determine whether transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling is dysregulated in sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM) muscle samples.

METHODS

We examined TGF-β signaling markers in muscle samples from 24 sIBM patients and compared them with those from 10 dermatomyositis (DM) patients using immunohistochemistry and Western blot analyses.

RESULTS

Compared with the DM muscle fibers, the sIBM muscle fibers exhibited greater TGF-β, TGF-β receptor type I (TβRI), and TGF-β receptor type II (TβRII) immunoreactivity in the cytoplasm, as well as greater phosphorylated Smad2 (pSmad2) immunoreactivity in the myonuclei. The signal intensities of TGF-β, TβRI, and TβRII immunoreactivity correlated significantly with muscle fiber cross-sectional areas. Western blot analyses indicated higher expression levels of TGF-β, TβRI, TβRII, and pSmad2 in the sIBM muscle samples than in the DM muscle samples.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate that upregulation of TGF-β signaling may be an important molecular event in sIBM. Muscle Nerve 55: 741-747, 2017.

CO-induced Pd segregation and the effect of subsurface Pd on CO adsorption on CuPd surfaces

We report results of our study on the adsorption of CO on CuPd surfaces with bulk stoichiometric and nonstoichiometric layers using density functional theory (DFT). We found that the presence of Pd atoms in the subsurface layer promotes the adsorption of CO. We also observed CO-induced Pd segregation on the CuPd surface and we attribute this to the strong CO-Pd interaction. Lastly, we showed that the adsorption of CO promotes Pd-Pd interaction as compared to the pristine surface which promotes strong Cu-Pd interaction. These results indicate that CO adsorption on CuPd surfaces can be tuned by taking advantage of the CO-induced segregation and by considering the role of subsurface Pd atoms.

Decreased Peak Expiratory Flow Associated with Muscle Fiber-Type Switching in Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy

The aim of this study was to characterize the respiratory function profile of subjects with spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), and to explore the underlying pathological mechanism by comparing the clinical and biochemical indices of this disease with those of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We enrolled male subjects with SBMA (n = 40) and ALS (n = 25) along with 15 healthy control subjects, and assessed their respiratory function, motor function, and muscle strength. Predicted values of peak expiratory flow (%PEF) and forced vital capacity were decreased in subjects with SBMA compared with controls. In SBMA, both values were strongly correlated with the trunk subscores of the motor function tests and showed deterioration relative to disease duration. Compared with activities of daily living (ADL)-matched ALS subjects, %PEF, tongue pressure, and grip power were substantially decreased in subjects with SBMA. Both immunofluorescence and RT-PCR demonstrated a selective decrease in the expression levels of the genes encoding the myosin heavy chains specific to fast-twitch fibers in SBMA subjects. The mRNA levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta were up-regulated in SBMA compared with ALS and controls. In conclusion, %PEF is a disease-specific respiratory marker for the severity and progression of SBMA. Explosive muscle strength, including %PEF, was selectively affected in subjects with SBMA and was associated with activation of the mitochondrial biogenesis-related molecular pathway in skeletal muscles.

Impact of pulmonary hypertension on neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia: a cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the impact of pulmonary hypertension (PH) on long-term growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes of extremely preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).

STUDY DESIGN

A single-center retrospective cohort of preterm infants born at <28 weeks gestational age from 2000 to 2011 was evaluated at 3 years of age. Growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes were compared among 3 groups: non-BPD, BPD without PH and BPD with PH. BPD was defined according to oxygen demand at 36 weeks postmenstrual age. PH was diagnosed by echocardiography during the neonatal intensive care unit stay.

RESULTS

Sixty-two infants without BPD, 60 with BPD without PH and 20 with BPD with PH were analyzed. Regardless of PH status, somatic growth was smaller in both BPD groups of infants than in non-BPD infants, with further reduction in the group having BPD with PH. Furthermore, a developmental quotient of <70 was more prevalent in the BPD infants with PH than in the BPD infants without PH (odds ratio (OR): 4.37; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.16 to 16.5). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that BPD with PH was one of the independent perinatal risk factors for developmental quotient <70 at 3 years of age (OR: 4.94, 95% confidence interval: 1.06 to 24.1).

CONCLUSION

PH had an additional negative effect on long-term growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes of extremely preterm infants with BPD.

First case report of pulmonary nocardiosis caused by Nocardia mexicana

Introduction:

Nocardia species usually cause opportunistic infections, and the frequency of these infections is increasing owing to the growing population of immunocompromised hosts. However, Nocardia species may sometimes cause an infection disease in immunocompetent hosts. Nocardia mexicana infections are the least common and are very rare.

Case presentation:

Herein, we report the first case of a pulmonary infection with N. mexicana in a 61-year-old Japanese woman with a history of hyperlipidaemia and bronchiectasis and a 6-month history of non-productive hacking cough. A sample of bronchial lavage fluid obtained by bronchofiberscopy showed filamentous branching gram-positive rods and acid-fast filamentous branching rods, and a colony of suspected Nocardia was cultured. Based on 16S rRNA, gyrB, rpoB, secA1 and hsp65 gene sequence analyses and biochemical and physiological properties, the strain was identified as N. mexicana. The strain was resistant to the antimicrobial agents amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, clarithromycin, minocycline, gentamycin, tobramycin, ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. The patient was treated with biapenem followed by intravenous amikacin and oral linezolid.

Conclusion:

Despite its rarity, the species require attention owing to the existence of multidrug-resistant strains.

Embolisation of a Persistent Primitive Trigeminal Artery for a Large Cavernous Aneurysm

We report a case of large cavernous aneurysm associated with persistent primitive trigeminal artery (PPTA). Thrombosis of the aneurysm was obtained only by occlusion of the PPTA. Aneurysms associated with PPTA have not previously been treated only by the occlusion of PPTA with GDC, and this report presents the first such intervention. A radiological follow-up study with MRI and angiography demonstrated marked shrinkage of the thrombosed aneurysm 17 months later, although clinical symptoms were not improved. From our experience, we suggest that the occlusion of the PPTA can be the first step in the therapeutic protocol for aneurysms associated with PPTA.

Impaired muscle uptake of creatine in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore the pathomechanism underlying the reduction of serum creatinine (Cr) concentrations in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA).

Methods

We evaluated blood chemistries, motor function, and muscle mass measured by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry in male subjects with SBMA (n = 65), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS; n = 27), and healthy controls (n = 25). We also examined the intramuscular concentrations of creatine, a precursor of Cr, as well as the protein and mRNA expression levels of the creatine transporter (SLC6A8) in autopsy specimens derived from subjects who had SBMA and ALS and disease controls. Furthermore, we measured the mRNA expression levels of SLC6A8 in cultured muscle cells (C2C12) transfected with the polyglutamine‐expanded androgen receptor (AR‐97Q).

Results

Serum Cr concentrations were significantly lower in subjects with SBMA than in those with ALS (P < 0.001), despite similar muscle mass values. Intramuscular creatine concentrations were also lower in with the autopsied specimen of SBMA subjects than in those with ALS subjects (P = 0.018). Moreover, the protein and mRNA expression levels of muscle SLC6A8 were suppressed in subjects with SBMA. The mRNA levels of SLC6A8 were also suppressed in C2C12 cells bearing AR‐97Q.

Interpretation

These results suggest that low serum Cr concentration in subjects with SBMA is caused by impaired muscle uptake of creatine in addition to being caused by neurogenic atrophy. Given that creatine serves as an energy source in skeletal muscle, increasing muscle creatine uptake is a possible therapeutic approach for treating SBMA.

Gene Expression Profile of Inflammatory Myopathy with Malignancy is Similar to that of Dermatomyositis rather than Polymyositis

Objective An association has been reported between inflammatory myopathies (IMs), which include polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM), and malignancy, and the concept of cancer-associated myositis (CAM) was recently proposed. We herein attempted to determine the features and etiologies of these myopathies. Methods We analyzed the gene expression levels via microarray and real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analyses to identify genes that were specifically upregulated or downregulated with suspected inflammatory involvement and verified the microarray data via an immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis in additional cases. Patients We selected 14 patients with the following conditions: PM without malignancy (n=3), DM without malignancy (n=3), CAM (n=3), and Controls (no pathological changes or malignancy; n=5). Results PM was distinct from DM and CAM in a clustering analysis and exhibited the highest numbers of overexpressed genes and specific pathologies in a gene ontology analysis. The IHC analysis confirmed the gene expression results. Conclusion PM is associated with severe inflammatory pathological findings, primarily in the cell-mediated immune system. DM and CAM exhibit similarities in the gene expression and IHC results, which suggest that humoral immunity is the main etiology for both myopathies, indicating the importance of cancer screening in patients with IMs, particularly DM.

Genetic profile for suspected dysferlinopathy identified by targeted next-generation sequencing

Objective:

To investigate the genetic causes of suspected dysferlinopathy and to reveal the genetic profile for myopathies with dysferlin deficiency.

Methods:

Using next-generation sequencing, we analyzed 42 myopathy-associated genes, including DYSF, in 64 patients who were clinically or pathologically suspected of having dysferlinopathy. Putative pathogenic mutations were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. In addition, copy-number variations in DYSF were investigated using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. We also analyzed the genetic profile for 90 patients with myopathy with dysferlin deficiency, as indicated by muscle specimen immunohistochemistry, including patients from a previous cohort.

Results:

We identified putative pathogenic mutations in 38 patients (59% of all investigated patients). Twenty-three patients had DYSF mutations, including 6 novel mutations. The remaining 16 patients, including a single patient who also carried the DYSF mutation, harbored putative pathogenic mutations in other genes. The genetic profile for 90 patients with dysferlin deficiency revealed that 70% had DYSF mutations (n = 63), 10% had CAPN3 mutations (n = 9), 2% had CAV3 mutations (n = 2), 3% had mutations in other genes (in single patients), and 16% did not have any identified mutations (n = 14).

Conclusions:

This study clarified the heterogeneous genetic profile for myopathies with dysferlin deficiency. Our results demonstrate the importance of a comprehensive analysis of related genes in improving the genetic diagnosis of dysferlinopathy as one of the most common subtypes of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. Unresolved diagnoses should be investigated using whole-genome or whole-exome sequencing.

[67Ga scintigraphy as a therapeutic marker for spinal cord and muscular sarcoidosis: A case report]

A 70-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of the right limb pain and gait disturbance. (67)Ga scintigraphy showed an increased uptake in the spinal cord, mediastinal lymph node and right tibialis anterior muscle. Based on the histopathological findings of epithelioid cell granuloma in endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration of lymph node, she was diagnosed as having probable spinal cord/muscular sarcoidosis. After she was treated with oral prednisolone, her limb pain and gait disturbance improved. Furthermore, uptake in (67)Ga scintigraphy was reduced after the treatment. In conclusion, (67)Ga scintigraphy is useful not only for diagnosis, but also for estimating the efficiency of the treatment for sarcoidosis involving multiple organs such as the spinal cord and skeletal muscle.

Effects of the positive feedback loop in polymerization on the reaction-induced phase separation of polymer mixtures

Phase separation of mixtures composed of a guest polymer dissolved in monomer of a host polymer was induced by photopolymerization. From the polymerization kinetics, it was found that for the host polymer with the glass transition temperature (Tg) higher than the experimental temperature, the Trommsdorff-Norrish effect emerges, providing a method to terminate the phase separation at various intermediate stages of the process and thereby a variety of morphologies can be constructed. For the host polymers with (Tg) lower than the experimental temperature, the freezing process of morphology is not complete, leading to the secondary phase separation inside the domains already generated by the primary process. The kinetics of this secondary phase separation indicates that the peculiar morphology like "sunny-side-up egg"-like structures was generated via spinodal decomposition. The experimental results obtained in this study show that the competition between photopolymerization and phase separation can provide a useful method of materials design in the micro- and sub-micrometer scales.

Interstitial impurity-induced magnetism in α-PbO surface

We have investigated the effects of 3d transition metal (TM) and non-magnetic interstitial impurities in α-PbO (0 0 1) surface using ab-initio calculations. The calculated impurity-induced magnetic moments are 2.25 μB, 3.11 μB and 0.94 μB for Fe, Mn and Pb interstitials respectively. In the bonding process, TM's lower energy lying d(z2) states form overlaps with nearest neighbour oxygen atoms' p(z) states, with other non-bonding spin split d states situated near or at the Fermi level. These spin split orbitals introduce spin polarised p impurity states of oxygen atoms near the surface.

Improving measurement accuracy by optimum data acquisition for Nd:YAG Thomson scattering system

A new high speed Nd:YAG Thomson scattering AD Convertor (HYADC) that can directly convert the detected scattered light signal into a digital signal is under development. The HYADC is expected to improve a signal to noise ratio of the Nd:YAG Thomson scattering measurement. The data storage of the HYADC which is required for the direct conversion of whole plasma discharge is drastically reduced by a ring buffer memory and a stop trigger system. Data transfer of the HYADC is performed by the SiTCP. The HYADC is easily expandable to a multi-channel system by the distributed data processing, and is very compact and easy to implement as a built-in system of the polychromators.

Interleukin-6 released by colon cancer-associated fibroblasts is critical for tumour angiogenesis: anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody suppressed angiogenesis and inhibited tumour-stroma interaction

Background:

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has an important role in cancer progression, and high levels of plasma IL-6 are correlated with a poor prognosis in a variety of cancers. It has also been reported that tumour stromal fibroblasts are necessary for steps in cancer progression, such as angiogenesis. There have been few reports of a correlation between fibroblast actions and IL-6 levels. In this study, we examined the correlation between cancer stromal fibroblasts and IL-6 and the utility of IL-6 as a therapeutic target in human colon cancer.

Methods:

The expression levels of IL-6 and VEGF of fibroblasts and cancer cell lines were evaluated using real-time PCR and ELISA. The anti-angiogenic effect of inhibiting IL-6 signalling was measured in an angiogenesis model and animal experiment.

Results:

We demonstrate that stromal fibroblasts isolated from colon cancer produced significant amounts of IL-6 and that colon cancer cells enhanced IL-6 production by stromal fibroblasts. Moreover, IL-6 enhanced VEGF production by fibroblasts, thereby inducing angiogenesis. In vivo, anti-IL6 receptor antibody targeting stromal tissue showed greater anti-tumour activity than did anti-IL6 receptor antibody targeting xenografted cancer cells.

Conclusion:

Cancer stromal fibroblasts were an important source of IL-6 in colon cancer. IL-6 produced by activated fibroblasts induced tumour angiogenesis by stimulating adjacent stromal fibroblasts. The relationship between IL-6 and stromal fibroblasts offers new approaches to cancer therapy.

[Use of zoledronic acid for lung cancer with bone metastases - a study on reossification of osteolytic bone metastases]

Lung cancer often induces osteolytic bone metastases, and skeletal-related events(SRE)such as bone pain or fracture decrease the quality of life and survival of the patient. Zoledronic acid(ZDA)suppresses osteoclastic changes and reduces the risk of SRE. Over the last 6 years, 84 lung cancer patients who had osteolytic bone metastases were medicated with ZDA in our hospital. Effective reossification was observed in 25%of them, and they obtained longer survival term and better performance status than did patients without effective reossification. ZDA enabled enforcement of aggressive anticancer therapy(radiation± chemotherapy)by reduction of SRE following reossification of osteolytic bone metastases, and contributed to better prognoses for lung cancer patients.