The Naples Prognostic Score Is an Independent Prognostic Factor for Gastric Cancer Patients Who Receive Curative Treatment

BACKGROUND/AIM

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical impact of the Naples Prognostic Score (NPS) in patients with gastric cancer and to clarify the potential of the NPS as a nutritional and inflammation evaluation system.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study included 158 patients who underwent curative treatment for gastric cancer between 2005 and 2020. The prognosis and clinical pathological parameters of the high-NPS (NPS >2) and low-NPS (NPS=0, 1) groups were analyzed.

RESULTS

The overall survival (OS) rates at 3 and 5 years were 86.7% and 77.7%, respectively, in the low-NPS group and 55.4% and 47.4%, respectively, in the high-NPS group. There were significant differences in OS between the two groups. Uni- and multivariate analyses demonstrated that the NPS was an independent prognostic factor for OS (HR=2.495, 95%CI=1.240-5.451). In addition, the 3- and 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 82.1% and 76.0%, respectively, in the NPS-low group, and 43.8% and 36.6% in the NPS-high group. Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that the NPS was an independent prognostic factor for RFS (HR=2.739, 95%CI=1.509-4.972). When the first site of recurrence was compared between the low-NPS group and high-NPS group, there were significant differences in peritoneal recurrence (8.7% vs. 34.3%, p=0.001) and hematologic recurrence (5.6% vs. 21.9%, p=0.004).

CONCLUSION

The NPS was a significant prognostic factor in patients with gastric cancer who received curative treatment. The NPS may be a promising biomarker for the treatment and management of gastric cancer.

CRP-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) Index Is an Independent Prognostic Factor for the Esophageal Cancer Patients Who Received Curative Treatment

BACKGROUND/AIM

Perioperative inflammation and the nutritional status affect both short- and long-term oncological outcomes in various malignancies. We clarified the clinical impacts of the CRP-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index in patients with esophageal cancer who received curative treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The present study included 180 patients who underwent curative treatment for esophageal cancer between 2005 and 2020. The prognosis and clinicopathological parameters were compared between a high-fibrinogen group and a low-fibrinogen group.

RESULTS

The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 50.0% and 42.6%, respectively, in the CALLY index-low group, and 75.9% and 66.6% in the CALLY index-high group. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (p<0.001). Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that the CALLY index was an independent prognostic factor [hazard ratio=2.310, 95% confidence interval=1.416-3.767, p<0.001]. Similar results were observed in recurrence-free survival. When comparing the details of postoperative surgical complications, there was a significant difference in the incidence of anastomotic leakage. The incidence of anastomotic leakage was 40.2% in the CALLY index-low group, while it was 27.5% in the CALLY index-high group (p=0.030).

CONCLUSION

The pretreatment CALLY index is one of the independent prognostic factors for esophageal cancer. The CALLY index might become a promising biomarker for the treatment and management of esophageal cancer.

Lymphocyte to Monocyte Ratio Is an Independent Prognostic Factor in Patients With Esophageal Cancer Who Receive Curative Treatment

BACKGROUND/AIM

This study evaluated the clinical impact of the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) in patients with esophageal cancer who received curative treatment and perioperative adjuvant treatment. The association between LMR and the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with esophageal cancer was also investigated.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study included 181 patients who underwent curative treatment for esophageal cancer between 2005 and 2020. The prognosis and clinicopathological parameters of patients with high and low LMR statuses were analyzed.

RESULTS

The OS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery were significantly lower (40.6% and 33.8%, respectively) in the low-LMR group than in the high-LMR group (67.1% and 58.4%, respectively). The pretreatment LMR was selected as an independent prognostic factor in the multivariate analysis model [hazard ratio (HR)=2.606; 95%CI=1.504-4.516, p<0.001]. Similar results were observed for RFS. Furthermore, LMR was associated with the occurrence of postoperative surgical complications and hematological recurrence. The incidence of anastomotic leakage was 63.3% in the low-LMR group and 27.2% in the high-LMR group (p<0.001). Moreover, the hematologic recurrence rate in the low-LMR group was significantly higher than that in the high-LMR group (46.7% vs. 23.8%, p=0.011).

CONCLUSION

The LMR may be a promising prognostic and predictive factor for esophageal cancer, and may be used to select optimal treatment strategies in the future.

Pretreatment Fibrinogen Level Is a Prognostic Factor for Esophageal Cancer Patients Who Receive Curative Treatment

BACKGROUND/AIM

Pretreatment fibrinogen levels are a promising prognostic marker for some malignancies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical impact of fibrinogen levels before treatment in patients with esophageal cancer who underwent curative resection.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study included 123 patients who underwent curative treatment for esophageal cancer between 2005 and 2020. The prognosis and clinicopathological parameters in the high fibrinogen and low fibrinogen groups were analyzed.

RESULTS

Overall survival (OS) stratified by individual clinical factors was compared using the log-rank test, and a significant difference was observed when a pretreatment fibrinogen level of 400 g/dl was used as a cutoff value. The comparison of the patient background factors between the high fibrinogen (400 g/dl) and low fibrinogen (<400 g/dl) groups revealed significant differences in pathological T status and lymph node metastasis. In the low fibrinogen group, the OS rates at 3 and 5 years after surgery (71.4% and 58.1%, respectively) were significantly higher than those in the high fibrinogen group (38.3% and 32.4%, respectively). Univariate and multivariate analyses for OS showed that the fibrinogen level prior to treatment was a significant prognostic factor. Similar results were observed for recurrence-free survival. In addition, when the first recurrence site was compared, there were marginally significant differences in hematologic recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Pretreatment fibrinogen levels are a significant risk factor in patients with esophageal cancer. Therefore, pretreatment fibrinogen levels are a promising prognostic factor for patients with esophageal cancer.

Whole-genome sequencing analysis of molecular epidemiology and silent transmissions causing meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections in a university hospital

BACKGROUND

The emergence of novel genomic-type clones, such as community-associated meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and livestock-associated MRSA, and their invasion into hospitals have become major concerns worldwide; however, little information is available regarding the prevalence of MRSA in Japan. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has been conducted to analyse various pathogens worldwide. Therefore, it is important to establish a genome database of clinical MRSA isolates available in Japan.

AIM

A molecular epidemiological analysis of MRSA strains isolated from bloodstream-infected patients in a Japanese university hospital was conducted using WGS and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis. Additionally, through a review of patients' clinical characteristics, the effectiveness of SNP analysis as a tool for detecting silent nosocomial transmission that may be missed by other methods was evaluated in diverse settings and various time points of detection.

METHODS

Polymerase-chain-reaction-based staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing was performed using 135 isolates obtained between 2014 and 2018, and WGS was performed using 88 isolates obtained between 2015 and 2017.

FINDINGS

SCCmec type II strains, prevalent in 2014, became rare in 2018, whereas the prevalence of SCCmec type IV strains increased from 18.75% to 83.87% of the population, and became the dominant clones. Clonal complex (CC) 5 CC8 and CC1 were detected between 2015 and 2017, with CC1 being dominant. In 88 cases, SNP analyses revealed nosocomial transmissions among 20 patients which involved highly homologous strains.

CONCLUSIONS

Routine monitoring of MRSA by whole-genome analysis is effective not only for gaining knowledge regarding molecular epidemiology, but also for detecting silent nosocomial transmission.

Treatment of twin-reversed arterial perfusion sequence using high-intensity focused ultrasound

We describe our experience of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for fetal therapy in twin-reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence. Six pregnant women underwent HIFU therapy, five before 16 weeks and one at 26 weeks. Two types of HIFU system were used: the first-generation system, which comprised a biaxial transducer and continuous exposure pattern, and the second-generation system, which comprised a coaxial transducer and sequential exposure pattern. The first-generation apparatus was used in four cases and the second-generation apparatus was used in two. In three cases, occlusion of the blood vessels mediating flow to the acardiac twin was achieved by HIFU. Two cases experienced intrauterine fetal death despite vessel occlusion. The total survival rate of pump fetuses 2 years after HIFU was 67% and the efficiency rate (the proportion of cases with occlusion or reduced blood flow on ultrasound after HIFU) was 83%. After more than 2 years of follow-up, the surviving infants had no severe clinical complications and no postnatal developmental problems. There was no significant difference in survival rate compared with TRAP cases managed expectantly. Given that complete occlusion of the blood vessels was not achieved in half of the cases, we could not show that HIFU therapy is superior to other treatments. However, HIFU can reduce the cardiac load of the pump fetus and, as it does not require uterine puncture for fetal therapy, there were no fatal complications, such as bleeding, rupture of membranes or infection. Thus, HIFU therapy may represent a less-invasive treatment for TRAP sequence in early pregnancy. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Public health and healthcare-associated risk of electric, warm-water bidet toilets

BACKGROUND

In recent years, installation of bidet toilets within hospitals in Japan has raised concerns regarding potential for cross-contamination by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria from patients who are hospitalized over an extended period.

AIM

To investigate the distribution of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria recovered from bidet toilets at a university-affiliated hospital in Japan.

METHODS

All 292 electric bidet toilets at a university hospital were sampled for contamination. Swabs for culture were used to sample water-jet nozzles and toilet seats.

FINDINGS

Of the 292 toilet seats sampled, warm-water nozzles of 254 (86.9%) were found to be contaminated by one or more of the following organisms: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp., Enterococcus spp., Enterobacteriaceae and non-Enterobacteriaceae Gram-negative bacteria. S. aureus was recovered from one water-jet nozzle and nine toilet seats; of these, meticillin-resistant S. aureus was recovered from the water-jet nozzle and from one toilet seat. Both the water-jet nozzle and seat of the same toilet were contaminated with a CTX-M-9 group extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli. Of the Gram-negative isolates recovered from samples, the organism with the highest frequency of isolation was Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, which was recovered from 39 bidet toilets.

CONCLUSION

Warm-water nozzles of bidet toilets are contaminated with a wide range of bacteria, making them a potential vehicle for cross-infection. In the hospital setting, shared use of bidet toilets must consider the clinical background of patients. Based on these findings, these devices must be part of the risk management programme, and steps should be included for monitoring and disinfection.

Prevention of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head in systemic lupus erythematosus by anti-coagulant

Although osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONF) is one of the serious complications in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with corticosteroid therapy, there has been few trials of prevention of ONF described. We aimed to prevent ONF in steroid-treated SLE patients using anticoagulant, warfarin, conducting a multicenter prospective study. Sixty newly diagnosed SLE patients requiring 40 mg/day or more prednisolone were alternately assigned to either of two groups; a warfarin group and a control one. Warfarin (1 ∼ 5 mg/day) was started together with the beginning of steroid therapy and continued at least for three months. Patients were observed for the development of silent ONF by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and symptomatic ONF by plain radiography for over five years. The warfarin group consisted of 31 patients (62 hips) and the control one 29 patients (58 hips). Silent ONF developed in 13 hips (21%) and 19 hips (33%) in the warfarin group and the control group, respectively ( P = 0.13). On the other hand, warfarin tended to prevent symptomatic ONF; only three hips of 62 (4.8%) in the warfarin group and eight hips of 58 (14%) in the control group ( P = 0.08) developed silent ONF. It was also found that silent ONF developed, if it did, very early; within three months in 16 of 18 patients (89%). Among risk factors for silent ONF, steroid pulse therapy was most outstanding and it seemed to overcome the effect of warfarin. Taken together, for the time being, anticoagulant therapy, if not significantly sufficient, may be of use for the prevention of steroid-induced ONF in SLE. We consider that this study added to important evidence for the pathogenesis and prevention of ONF.

Very early development of steroid-associated osteonecrosis of femoral head in systemic lupus erythematosus: prospective study by MRI

The objective of this study was to define prospectively the early development of corticosteroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONF) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to identify the association of initial steroid treatment with the development of early (silent) ONF. Forty-five patients who were newly diagnosed as having SLE and required 40 mg/day or more prednisolone were enrolled. To detect silent ONF, examinations using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were done three months after starting steroid therapy, followed by every year’s MRI and plain radiography for over five years. Clinical and laboratory data were compared between silent ONF and non-ONF groups. Of 45 patients, 15 (33%) developed silent ONF and five (11%) symptomatic ONF. It was of interest that MRI detected silent ONF very early (by three months) in 14 patients (93%). It should be noted that pulse therapy with 1000 mg/day methylprednisolone was found to be done very frequently (13 of 15, 87%) in the silent ONF group compared to non-ONF group (11 of 30, 37%) (P, 0.01) although other clinical features were not significantly different between both groups. High dose corticosteroids caused elevation of serum levels of total cholesterol, albumin, and leukocyte count in most of patients. The degree of elevation of those parameters at one or three months was more prominent in the silent ONF group. In particular, the change ratio of total cholesterol at one month was outstanding in the silent ONF group compared to non-ONF group (0.551 versus 0.374, P, 0.05). In conclusion, pathological ONF develops very early in one-third of SLE patients who received high dose corticosteroids and steroid pulse therapy could be a significant risk factor. An abrupt elevation of serum total cholesterol and/or sensitivity to steroids seem to be associated with the pathogenesis of ONF.

Molecular epidemiologic analysis of a Pneumocystis pneumonia outbreak among renal transplant patients

Between 18 November and 3 December 2011, five renal transplant patients at the Department of Nephrology, Toho University Omori Medical Centre, Tokyo, were diagnosed with Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). We used molecular epidemiologic methods to determine whether the patients were infected with the same strain of Pneumocystis jirovecii. DNA extracted from the residual bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from the five outbreak cases and from another 20 cases of PCP between 2007 and 2014 were used for multilocus sequence typing to compare the genetic similarity of the P. jirovecii. DNA base sequencing by the Sanger method showed some regions where two bases overlapped and could not be defined. A next-generation sequencer was used to analyse the types and ratios of these overlapping bases. DNA base sequences of P. jirovecii in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from four of the five PCP patients in the 2011 outbreak and from another two renal transplant patients who developed PCP in 2013 were highly homologous. The Sanger method revealed 14 genomic regions where two differing DNA bases overlapped and could not be identified. Analyses of the overlapping bases by a next-generation sequencer revealed that the differing types of base were present in almost identical ratios. There is a strong possibility that the PCP outbreak at the Toho University Omori Medical Centre was caused by the same strain of P. jirovecii. Two different types of base present in some regions may be due to P. jirovecii's being a diploid species.

Efficacy of an enteral feeding protocol for providing nutritional support after paediatric cardiac surgery

Enteral nutrition (EN) is considered to be a more appropriate method than parenteral feeding for providing nutrition to critically ill children. However, children who undergo cardiac surgery are at high risk of postoperative gastrointestinal complications during EN. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of our EN feeding protocol after paediatric cardiac surgery through comparison between a single-centre prospective case series and historical cases. Forty-seven children who were admitted to the ICU after cardiac surgery were enrolled ('post group'). Data for these children were compared with a similar cohort of children who were admitted before the implementation of the feeding protocol (n=62; 'pre group'). The incidence of complications including vomiting, necrotising enterocolitis and hypoglycaemia; the time until the initiation of EN; and the changes in calories provided were compared between the groups. The frequency of vomiting was significantly lower in the post group than in the pre group (36.2% versus 58.0%, P=0.038), and necrotising enterocolitis did not occur in either group. The time until the initiation of EN and the total calories provided did not differ significantly; however, in the post group the proportion of energy provided by parenteral nutrition was significantly smaller (P <0.001), and provided by EN was significantly larger (P=0.003), than in the pre group. The frequency of hypoglycaemia was similar in both groups. This study showed that our EN protocol resulted in adjustments to calories provided via EN versus parenteral nutrition after paediatric cardiac surgery, and reduced the frequency of vomiting.

Effect of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol on the duodenal villi and alkaline phosphatase in the developing chick embryo

Administration of 1,25-(OH)2D3 to developing 14-day chick embryo gave precocious induction of alkaline phosphatase in 20-day chick embryonic duodenum. 1,25-(OH)-2D3-induced alkaline phosphase involved in changes in Km and Vmax values. Furthermore, polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis of n-butanol-solubilized alkaline phosphatase from control and 1,25-(OH)2D3-treated chick embryonic duodenum revealed that 1,25-(OH)2D3 involved the transformation of neuraminidase-resistant fast migrating form to the neuraminidase-sensitive faster migrating one. Scanning electron microscopic data showed that the injection of 1,25-(OH)2D3 stimulated the elongation of duodenal microvilli, although there was no effect on the duodenal absorptive epithelial cell height.

Comparison of different aspects of BMI history to identify undiagnosed diabetes in Japanese men and women: Toranomon Hospital Health Management Center Study 12 (TOPICS 12)

AIMS

To examine current BMI and various aspects of BMI history as pre-screening tools for undiagnosed diabetes in Japanese individuals.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 16 226 men and 7026 women aged 30-75 years without a self-reported history of clinician-diagnosed diabetes. We estimated the probability of having undiagnosed diabetes (fasting glucose ≥ 7.0 mmol/l and/or HbA1c ≥ 48 mmol⁄mol (≥ 6.5%) for the following variables: current BMI, BMI in the early 20s (BMI(20y)), lifetime maximum BMI (BMI(max)), change between BMI in the early 20s and current BMI (ΔBMI(20y-cur)), change between BMI in the early 20s and maximum BMI (ΔBMI(20y-max)), and change between lifetime maximum and current BMI (ΔBMI(max-cur)).

RESULTS

The prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes was 3.3% (771/23252) among participants. BMI(max) , ΔBMI(20y-max) and current BMI (1-sd increments) were more strongly associated with diabetes than the other factors (multivariate odds ratio 1.58 [95% CI 1.47-1.70] in men and 1.65 [95% CI 1.43-1.90] in women for BMI(max) ; multivariate odds ratio 1.47 [95% CI 1.37-1.58] in men and 1.61 [95% CI 1.41-1.84] in women for ΔBMI(20y-max) ; multivariate odds ratio 1.47 [95% CI 1.36-1.58] in men and 1.63 [95% CI 1.40-1.89] in women for current BMI). The probability of having diabetes was markedly higher in those with both the highest tertile of BMI(max) and greatest ΔBMI(20y-max) ; however, a substantially lower likelihood of diabetes was observed among individuals with the lowest and middle tertiles of current BMI (< 24.62 kg/m² in men and < 22.54 kg/m² in women).

CONCLUSIONS

Lifetime maximum BMI and BMI changes from early adulthood were strongly associated with undiagnosed diabetes. Adding BMI history to people's current BMI would improve the identification of individuals with a markedly higher probability of having undiagnosed diabetes.

Quantitative relationship between body weight gain in adulthood and incident type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis

This meta-analysis quantified the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) preceded by body weight (BW) gain in the general population. Systematic literature searches retrieved 15 eligible studies. The BW gain was divided into early weight-gain, which was defined as BW gain from early adulthood (18-24 years of age) to cohort entry (≥25 years of age), and late weight-gain, which was defined as BW gain from cohort entry. The pooled relative risk (RR; 95% confidence interval [CI]) of T2DM for an increment of BW gain standardized into a 5-kg m(-2) increment in the body mass index (BMI) was 3.07 (2.49-2.79) for early weight-gain and 2.12 (1.74-2.58) for late weight-gain. When limiting analysis to studies that concurrently examined T2DM risk for current BMI (defined in both groups as BMI at cohort entry), a larger magnitude of T2DM risk was revealed for early weight-gain compared with current BMI (RR [95% CI], 3.38 [2.20-5.18] vs. 2.39 [1.58-3.62]), while there was little difference between late weight-gain (RR [95% CI], 2.21 [1.91-2.56]) and current BMI (RR [95% CI], 2.47 [1.97-3.30]). The meta-analysis suggested that BW gain was a quantifiable predictor of T2DM, as well as current obesity in adults. Particularly, BW gain in early rather than middle-to-late adulthood played an important role in developing T2DM.

Tacrolimus is effective for lupus nephritis patients with persistent proteinuria

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the safety and potential efficacy of tacrolimus for the treatment of patients with lupus nephritis and persistent proteinuria.

METHODS

A total of 23 Japanese patients with lupus nephritis (21 females/2 males) were enrolled in this study. Patients were administered tacrolimus at a dose of 2-3 mg once daily after the evening meal for 6 months. The dose of tacrolimus was unchanged throughout the study period. Concomitant prednisolone therapy was unchanged or gradually tapered, while other immunosuppressants were stopped at the start of tacrolimus treatment.

RESULTS

Tacrolimus was well tolerated, and none of the patients developed adverse drug reactions that required discontinuation of the study. Daily urinary protein loss, the U-prot/U-creat ratio, and serum albumin were significantly improved after 4 months, 3 months, and 1 month of treatment with tacrolimus (p<0.05), respectively, and the improvement persisted until 6 months. The serum complement hemolytic activity (CH50), complement C3 level, and CRP level were also significantly improved after treatment with tacrolimus (p<0.05). Improvement of the U-prot/U-creat ratio was most prominent for patients who were in WHO class IV.

CONCLUSIONS

Tacrolimus is safe and effective as maintenance therapy for patients with lupus nephritis, at least for 6 months. A larger randomised, controlled trial over a longer period is needed to confirm these results.

Human leukocyte histocompatibility antigen class II-induced cytokines from human gingival fibroblasts promote proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells: potential association with enhanced angiogenesis in chronic periodontal inflammation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The role of human leukocyte histocompatibility antigen (HLA) class II molecules on non-antigen-presenting cells has been a matter of controversy. We previously reported that HLA-II molecules on human gingival fibroblasts (GF) do not present antigens, but transduce signals into the cells, resulting in the expression of several cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) and IL-8. However, the exact role of these cytokines, as well as other cytokines which are potentially secreted from GF, in the pathogenesis of chronic periodontal inflammation is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to observe the effects of HLA-II-induced cytokines on the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Antibody-based cytokine-microarray analyses were performed to detect potential cytokines associated with angiogenesis. Next, cytokine productivity was confirmed by quantitative methods. Then, cell proliferation assay was performed to see whether these cytokines promoted the proliferation of HUVEC.

RESULTS

Besides IL-6, MCP-1, RANTES and IL-8, growth-related gene product (GRO) was newly identified as an HLA-II-induced cytokine released from GF. This was confirmed by a quantitative method. Cell culture supernatant from HLA-II-stimulated GF cultures promoted the growth of HUVEC. Addition of anti-IL-8 neutralizing antibody, anti-CXC receptor (CXCR)1 antibody and anti-MCP-1 antibody inhibited the growth of HUVEC in a dose-dependent manner, while addition of anti-GROalpha antibody did not.

CONCLUSION

The HLA-II-induced IL-8, via CXCR1, as well as MCP-1 from GF, promotes endothelial cell proliferation, which is possibly associated with enhanced angiogenesis in chronic periodontal lesions.

A dose-escalation study of rituximab for treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus and Evans' syndrome: immunological analysis of B cells, T cells and cytokines

OBJECTIVE

Accumulating evidence suggests that B-cell depletion therapy by rituximab may be effective for autoimmune disorders. However, an optimal dose of rituximab and a mechanism of its action remain to be established. We performed a dose-escalation study for treatment of Japanese patients with autoimmune diseases including eight with SLE and one with Evans' syndrome.

METHODS

Rituximab was infused intravenously, weekly 4 times in a dose-escalating fashion at three different doses of 100, 250 or 375 mg/m(2) to three patients each. Immunological parameters were monitored at certain points until 12 months after the treatment.

RESULTS

Rituximab was well tolerated and safe in these patients. Seven out of eight SLE patients and one with Evans' syndrome clinically responded completely or partially to the treatment. Four patients achieved long-term remission (18-30 months) without any additional treatment. In these patients, a significant decrease in circulating B cells continued for 6 months after the treatment. The mean fluorescence intensities of CD19, CD21, CD40 and BR3 on the residual B cells as well as the percentage of CD69+ CD4+ T cells decreased significantly. Serum TNF-alpha levels decreased significantly on day 2. The Th1/Th2 balance of CD4+ T cells gradually shifted towards a Th1 type by 6 months.

CONCLUSION

In addition to B-cell depletion, modification of B-cell and T-cell phenotypes as well as cytokine profiles may be involved in the action of rituximab.

Focal adhesion kinase mediates human leukocyte histocompatibility antigen class II-induced signaling in gingival fibroblasts

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The role of human leukocyte antigen class II molecules on nonantigen-presenting cells has been a matter of controversy. We previously reported that human leukocyte antigen class II molecules on human gingival fibroblasts do not present antigens, but transduce signals into the cells by making a complex with antigenic peptide T-cell receptor or by stimulating cell surface human leukocyte antigen-DR molecules with human leukocyte antigen-DR antibody (L243), which mimics the formation of the human leukocyte antigen class II-antigenic peptide T-cell receptor complex, resulting in the expression of several cytokines. The aim of this study was to detect human leukocyte antigen class II-associated molecules mediating human leukocyte antigen class II-induced signals into the cells.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Antibody-based protein-microarray analysis was performed to detect activated signaling molecules in gingival fibroblasts stimulated via human leukocyte antigen class II molecules. Then, we examined if these molecules structurally associate with human leukocyte antigen class II and actually transduce signals into the cells.

RESULTS

Stimulation of human leukocyte antigen class II on gingival fibroblasts by L243 resulted in enhanced phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase. Focal adhesion kinase was co-immunoprecipitated with human leukocyte antigen-DR by L243. Stimulation of gingival fibroblasts with L243 induced phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase. Luteolin, a putative focal adhesion kinase inhibitor, suppressed phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase and dose dependently inhibited human leukocyte antigen class II-induced cytokine production.

CONCLUSION

Focal adhesion kinase is structurally associated with human leukocyte antigen-DR and mediates human leukocyte antigen class II-induced signals in gingival fibroblasts.

A method for removing copper from charcoal of waste wood using an electrical current

The reclamation of resources from wastes, through such activities as recycling various kinds of wastes and finding more ways to use them, is an important part of changing to a sustainable society. It is also important to ensure the safety of products by, for example, removing hazardous substances from recycled items. Wood is a type of demolition waste. The reuse and recycling of wood from demolition have not progressed much. To increase the number of ways of using wood wastes we have examined methods of making carbonized materials from them and using these carbonized materials to control indoor air pollution (Shibano et al., 2002). Research currently underway on ensuring the safety of recycled items includes investigating the behavior and other characteristics of hazardous substances that are, or may very well be, found in recycled items. It is known that the smoke arising from the process of carbonizing wood wastes is mutagenic. However, such mutagenic components become smoke and separate from carbonized materials, and, especially at temperatures of 800 degrees C and higher, they hardly remain in carbonized materials at all (Nakajima et al., 2003, 2004). In the carbonization of wood wastes containing hazardous metals such as CCA (Cr, Cu, As)-treated wood, substances that readily vaporize separate from the carbonized materials. One cannot expect, however, the same removal effect on metals that vaporize with difficulty, such as Cu, making it likely that they remain in the carbonized material (Takahashi et al., 2004). To examine methods of removing hazardous metals which may well remain in carbonized wood wastes, we investigated the removal and recovery of copper from charcoal with a high copper content by applying electricity (direct current) to it.

Spatiotemporal brain activity in mental rotation

There are many higher-order cognitive processes whose neural mechanisms are hard to study by using nonhuman primates. The mental rotation task is one of the best studied of these. We investigated the spatiotemporal brain activity underlying mental rotation of different kinds of stimuli by measuring the magnetoencephalogram of subjects performing two kinds of mental rotation tasks. Visual stimuli in one experiment consisted of hand shapes presented at various orientations, and those in the other consisted of a set of alphabetic characters and their mirror images presented at various orientations. All stimuli were presented in the left visual field. Activity associated with visual stimulus processing was estimated in the lateral occipital lobe, basal occipitotemporal area, and inferior temporal gyrus. Activities related to higher visual processing were differed between the two kinds of stimuli we used. For the hand shape experiment, we found right inferior parietal lobule activity at 200-300 ms after the stimulus presentation. For the alphabetic characters, activity was found in the left superior temporal region at about 300 ms. Furthermore, activity related to mental stimulation in the inferior parietal lobule and premotor area were seen in the both experiments. In the experiments with hands, the premotor activity showed left-hemispheric dominance. However, in the experiments with alphabetic characters, the laterality of the premotor activity did not show left-hemispheric dominance. We inferred this difference was influenced by the subjects' familiarity with the mental rotation of visual stimuli.

Aberrant HS1 molecule in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the activation of autoreactive B lymphocytes, which are supposed to carry aberrant signal transduction after the stimulation of B-cell receptor (BCR). To investigate abnormalities in BCR-mediated signaling pathway in lupus B lymphocytes, we analyzed HS1, a molecule downstream of BCR, in 80 Japanese SLE patients. We identified 37 amino acid deletion of HS1 in a 25-year-old female patient, and the aberrant HS1 lacked a part of a functional motif. Analysis of genomic DNA revealed that the aberrant HS1 was caused by exon skipping. Family study showed that the patient as well as her father and sister are heterozygous for the abnormality. WEHI-231 cell, a mouse B cell line, transfected with the aberrant HS1 displayed a significantly increased cell death upon cross-linking of BCR. Additionally, peripheral B lymphocytes from the patient exerted increased apoptosis after BCR stimulation compared to those from control SLE patients. These data suggest that the aberrant HS1 molecule may transmit an accelerated signal after BCR stimulation and may play a role in the activation of autoreactive B lymphocytes.

Factors associated with anxiety, depression and suicide ideation in female outpatients with SLE in Japan

The subjects consisted of 84 female SLE outpatients who were all over 20 years of age. These patients were able to maintain relatively stable physical conditions and lead normal daily lives, and they were regularly treated at the outpatient clinic. All subjects were Japanese. Psychological features (trait anxiety, state anxiety, depression and suicide ideation) were evaluated using psychological tests, and the relationships between the respective psychological features and background factors were statistically evaluated using stepwise multiple logistic regression analyses. In this study, we found that 'the self-evaluation of not having understood SLE at the time of starting SLE treatment' was the background factor significantly affecting depression or trait anxiety. 'No spouse' had a statistically significant effect on depression, and 'self-awareness as problems of side-effects due to steroids' had a statistically significant effect on state anxiety. We also found 'human relations among family members' and 'high daily steroid dosage' to be significantly correlated with suicide ideation. However, there were no correlations between the psychological features and 'disease activity at the time of investigation' or 'history of neuropsychiatric diseases'. In female SLE outpatients, performing psychological approaches focusing on 'understanding SLE at the beginning of treatment', 'the human relationships among family members', or 'issues related to steroid therapy' may be useful for the early treatment or prevention of various major mental problems.

Detection of pinpoint tenderness on the appendix under ultrasonography is useful to confirm acute appendicitis

HYPOTHESIS

Ultrasonography can be efficiently performed using new criteria for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

DESIGN

Prospective trial.

PATIENTS

Eighty-nine patients admitted to the hospital with suspected appendicitis between March 1998 and November 2000.

INTERVENTION

At hospital admission, a staff surgeon evaluated each patient and determined whether the patient had appendicitis requiring immediate surgery or another disease. Patients then underwent ultrasonography. A sonographic transducer was placed on the area of maximal tenderness. When the pathological manifestation was depicted, the examiner slipped a fingertip between the transducer and the patient's skin and then pressed the area of depicted pathological manifestation to find pinpoint tenderness. When maximal pinpoint tenderness was noted on the appendix or on pathological manifestations contiguous to the appendix, we diagnosed the condition as appendicitis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and overall accuracy.

RESULTS

The diagnosis of appendicitis by this criteria had a sensitivity of 86.7%, a specificity of 89.7%, a positive predictive value of 94.5%, a negative predictive value of 76.5%, and overall accuracy of 87.6%. All 50 patients with pinpoint tenderness noted on the appendix had appendicitis. The surgeon's initial clinical impression had a sensitivity of 83.3%, a specificity of 44.8%, a positive predictive value of 75.8%, a negative predictive value of 56.5%, and overall accuracy of 70.8%.

CONCLUSIONS

The efficacy of ultrasonography using the simple criteria was superior to that of the surgeon's initial clinical impression (P<.001). Our ultrasonographic criteria for the diagnosis of appendicitis are simple to use and efficient.

Simultaneous double or triple coil technique for closure of moderate sized (> or = 3.0 mm) patent ductus arteriosus

One important complication of coil occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus using the conventional Gianturco coil is migration of coils into peripheral vessels. Especially in patients having relatively larger size ductus, the risk for such complication could be increased. In this regard, a detachable coil may have some technical benefits in performing coil occlusion and reducing the incidence of complications such as migration of coil. Based on our clinical experiences, we describe the clinical efficacy of a simultaneous double or triple coil occlusion technique using the Cook detachable coil system to close the ductus arteriosus, especially in patients whose ductus diameter more than 3.0 mm.

A 5-day course of oral desensitization to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (T/S) in patients with human immunodeficiency virus type-1 infection who were previously intolerant to T/S

BACKGROUND

Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (T/S) is an essential drug in patients with human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection to prevent opportunistic infections. About 40% to 60% of them develop skin rash which leads to discontinue the medication. A precise mechanism of the reaction is not known.

OBJECTIVE

To make the patients more tolerable to the medication and to make clear whether or not the reaction is caused by serum sulfamethoxazole-specific IgE.

METHODS

We established a 5-day protocol, in which T/S was administered orally as a granular form in increasing doses beginning with 0.005 g (it contains trimethoprim 0.4 mg and sulfamethoxazole 2 mg) and doubled every 12 hours until the therapeutic dose was achieved. We tried to desensitize T/S in 17 patients with HIV-1 infection who were previously intolerant to T/S and measured the specific IgE in sera.

RESULTS

Desensitization was successfully completed in 15 (88.2%) of the patients. In two patients who failed the desensitization, one was due to fever and the other was gastric irritation. During followup in a mean period of 16.6 months (range, 8 to 23 months) as of May, 1999, none has had Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) while receiving T/S after desensitization. Sulfamethoxazole-specific IgE did not increase, indicating that it was not the major cause of skin rash due to T/S in our cases.

CONCLUSION

These preliminary results show that most patients who were thought to be intolerant to T/S and had no sulfamethoxazole-specific IgE can be safely desensitized and received the drug subsequently as an effective prophylaxis for PCP.

Anticentromere antibody as a risk factor for cancer in patients with systemic sclerosis

This study has estimated the cancer risk among patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) using a population-based analysis. Using the inpatient and outpatient registries for patients at Kyushu University Hospital between 1982 and 1996, standardised incidence rates (SIRs) (ratio of observed-to-expected cancers) were calculated in 43 patients with SSc, 24 patients with polymyositis (PM) and 17 patients with dermatomyositis (DM). Risk factors predisposing to cancers were also investigated in the SSc patients. Compared with the Japanese general population, the SIR for developing cancer in SSc patients was 5.1 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.7-10.8), while the SIRs for cancer in the PM and DM groups were 4.7 (95% CI, 1.5-10.3) and 61.2 (95% CI, 46.8-77.6), respectively. A statistically significant risk factor for cancers in the SSc patients was positivity for anticentromere antibody (ACA) (p<0.05), while the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum lactate dehydrogenase concentration, serum gamma-globulin concentration, titre of antinuclear antibody and positivity for antitopoisomerase I antibody were not associated with cancer in SSc. Our population-based study confirms the increased risk of cancer among patients with SSc in Japan and provides new evidence that positivity for ACA should be considered as a risk factor for cancer in future monitoring of patients.

Factors correlated with emotional instability in SLE outpatients

Abstract Eighty-four female outpatients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who are able to live on their own were investigated. We statistically analyzed the relationship between emotional instability based on psychological tests (Cornell Medical Index), and physical, medical, and social factors based on both our clinical records and original questionnaires. The emotional instability was related to not "working," an older "age at the time of SLE diagnosis," being "anxious about the adverse effects of steroids," or not "understanding the details of the disease and treatment at the time SLE treatment was started." No relationship with previously experienced physical factors was observed. In addition, no relationship with disease activity was observed either. We identified the characteristic correlation between emotional instability and medical and social factors in this study. Paying close attention to these factors may thus be useful in both preventing the appearance of psychological problems and developing effective early treatment strategies.

Analysis of fas ligand gene mutation in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the possible association of a Fas ligand (FasL) gene mutation(s) or polymorphism(s) with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

METHODS

For amplification of the introns of the FasL gene, long polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using exon-based primers was utilized, followed by partial sequencing to construct exon-specific oligonucleotide primers for the analyses of FasL genomic DNA in SLE patients. Structural defects were studied by use of a composite analysis of reverse transcriptase-PCR/single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts of the FasL gene in 35 SLE patients and PCR/SSCP analysis of FasL genomic DNA in 143 SLE patients.

RESULTS

The sizes of the introns were approximately 0.6 kb for intron 1, 4.3 kb for intron 2, and 1.3 kb for intron 3. By SSCP analysis, we did not identify any mutations or polymorphisms in the FasL mRNA transcripts or in any of the 4 exons or areas of the introns adjacent to the exons.

CONCLUSION

Using the same methods used in the present studies (PCR/SSCP), one group of investigators identified a structural defect of the FasL molecule in 1 of 75 SLE patients evaluated. Among the 143 SLE patients in the present study, however, we did not identify any mutations or polymorphisms of the FasL gene. Our results suggest that a FasL defect is not the major contributing factor in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Analysis of fas ligand gene mutation in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the possible association of a Fas ligand (FasL) gene mutation(s) or polymorphism(s) with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

METHODS

For amplification of the introns of the FasL gene, long polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using exon-based primers was utilized, followed by partial sequencing to construct exon-specific oligonucleotide primers for the analyses of FasL genomic DNA in SLE patients. Structural defects were studied by use of a composite analysis of reverse transcriptase-PCR/single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts of the FasL gene in 35 SLE patients and PCR/SSCP analysis of FasL genomic DNA in 143 SLE patients.

RESULTS

The sizes of the introns were approximately 0.6 kb for intron 1, 4.3 kb for intron 2, and 1.3 kb for intron 3. By SSCP analysis, we did not identify any mutations or polymorphisms in the FasL mRNA transcripts or in any of the 4 exons or areas of the introns adjacent to the exons.

CONCLUSION

Using the same methods used in the present studies (PCR/SSCP), one group of investigators identified a structural defect of the FasL molecule in 1 of 75 SLE patients evaluated. Among the 143 SLE patients in the present study, however, we did not identify any mutations or polymorphisms of the FasL gene. Our results suggest that a FasL defect is not the major contributing factor in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Anti-HIV effect of saquinavir combined with ritonavir is limited by previous long-term therapy with protease inhibitors

Combination therapy of saquinavir (SQV) and ritonavir (RTV) seems to have a strong antiretroviral effect pharmacokinetically. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of combined therapy using SQV and RTV in patients previously treated with protease inhibitors (PIs) and to identify the factors compromising the response to such combination therapy. Nineteen HIV-infected Japanese patients participated in this trial between June 1997 and July 1998, and were monitored until November 1998. Patients were treated with SQV (400 mg twice daily) and RTV (300 or 400 mg twice daily). Among the 17 patients who continued such therapy for longer than 3 months, 6 were responders. Among nonresponders, the duration of PI therapy was longer and a higher frequency of preexisting PI resistance viral mutations was detected than in responders. No significant differences were found in previous use of reverse transcriptase inhibitor therapy, CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts, viral load at baseline, and plasma concentrations of SQV and RTV between responders and nonresponders. Our results suggest that the response to SQV combined with RTV therapy is complicated by previous long-term treatment with PIs, probably owing to multiple PI resistance mutations. Even in patients with a PI-sensitive HIV genotype, however, resistance mutations can develop during therapy and abrogate the effect of high plasma SQV concentrations.

Recognition of the codon-anticodon helix by ribosomal RNA

Translational fidelity is established by ribosomal recognition of the codon-anticodon interaction within the aminoacyl-transfer RNA (tRNA) site (A site) of the ribosome. Experiments are presented that reveal possible contacts between 16S ribosomal RNA and the codon-anticodon complex. N1 methylation of adenine at position 1492 (A1492) and A1493 interfered with A-site tRNA binding. Mutation of A1492 and A1493 to guanine or cytosine also impaired A-site tRNA binding. The deleterious effects of A1492G or A1493G (or both) mutations were compensated by 2'fluorine substitutions in the mRNA codon. The results suggest that the ribosome recognizes the codon-anticodon complex by adenine contacts to the messenger RNA backbone and provide a mechanism for molecular discrimination of correct versus incorrect codon-anticodon pairs.

Establishment and characterization of a Fas-resistant T cell line

Fas is a cell surface receptor that controls a signal transduction pathway leading to apoptosis. We established an antihuman Fas monoclonal antibody (mAb)-resistant variant, kit-225-FR, from the human T cell line, kit-225. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the expression of Fas molecules on kit-225-FR was preserved. The defect in Fas molecule was not detected either by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of the Fas transcript or by PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism analysis of the Fas gene in kit-225-FR. Although kit-225-FR was resistant to a high concentration of anti-Fas mAb, apoptosis could be induced, as with the wild type, by exogenous C2-ceramide exposure. MORT1/FADD was expressed at wild-type level in kit-225-FR, as determined by Western blot analysis. It therefore appears that the apoptotic signal transduction in kit-225-FR is defective between FADD and the sphingomyelin-ceramide pathway. By comparing the differences from the wild-type kit-225, kit-225-FR would serve as a useful cell line for analyzing Fas-specific signal transduction pathways in detail.