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Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and demographic features of 62 patients presenting sporadic odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) or OKCs associated with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS). In conjunction with this, we also evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of Shh, Ptch1, Ptch2, Smo, Gli1, Gli2 and Gli3 proteins in 86 OKCs. By doing this, we add to the understanding of the biology of this type of lesion, providing tools that will help facilitate the early diagnosis of NBCCS in those patients where the first manifestation is that of OKCs.Methods: This is a retrospective study; patients were classified into two groups: group 1 which consisted of those who were not affected by NBCCS (49 patients and 57 OKCs) and group 2 which consisted of those who were diagnosed with NBCCS (13 patients and 29 OKCs). The clinical and demographic features were studied and the immunohistochemical expression of Sonic Hedgehog proteins (Shh, Ptch1, Ptch2, Smo, Gli1, Gli2, and Gli3) was analyzed in all samples.Results: There was an increase in the expression of three proteins in the syndromic OKC, when compared to that of sporadic cysts. Shh and Gli1 showed higher cytoplasmic expression, while Smo revealed stronger nuclear and cytoplasmic expressions.Conclusion and clinical relevance: Our findings suggest that the expression patterns of important Shh pathway proteins can represent valuable markers for early diagnosis of NBCCS-associated OKCs, as the major criterion for the diagnosis of NBCCS is currently based on the late appearance of basal cellular carcinomas. Thus, standardizing a new diagnostic tool for diagnosis of NBCCS could be of great importance in the identification of therapeutic targets. We therefore suggest, as based on our findings, that OKCs showing high expression of Shh, Smo, and Gli1 are potentially associated with NBCCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PBSC products for auto- and allografting can be cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen with controlled-rate freezing until their use. Alternatively, they can be stored at −80 °C in a mechanical chest freezer, but it remains to be clarified whether PBSCs can be stored for the long term. We evaluated viability and functions of PBSCs cryopreserved for more than 10 years with this simplified method. Although recovery rate and viability of CD34+ cells were significantly decreased, myeloid differentiation potential and in vivo reconstitution and self-renewal potential of CD34+ cells in a xenogeneic engraftment assay were maintained for more than 10 years. These results indicate that PBSCs can be stored at −80 °C for years. Although accumulation of clinical engraftment data is required to confirm our results, this simplified cryopreservation will thus meet the increasing worldwide demand for PBSC transplantation in a region with limited resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) encephalitis following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation is a serious and often fatal complication accompanying reactivation of HHV-6B. Incidence varies among studies, but is reportedly 0-11.6% after bone marrow or PBSC transplantation and 4.9-21.4% after umbilical cord blood transplantation, typically around 2-6 weeks post transplant. Symptoms are characterized by memory loss, loss of consciousness and seizures. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) typically shows bilateral signal abnormalities in the limbic system. This complication is considered to represent acute encephalitis caused by direct virally induced damage to the central nervous system, but our understanding of the etiologies and pathogenesis is still limited. The mortality rate attributable to this pathology remains high, and survivors are often left with serious sequelae such as impaired memory and epilepsy. Despite the poor prognosis, no validated treatments or preventative measures have been established. Establishment of preventative strategies represents an important challenge. This article reviews the current knowledge of the clinical features, incidence, pathogenesis and treatment of HHV-6 encephalitis, and discusses issues needing clarification in the future to overcome this serious complication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of the conditioning intensity and TBI on acute GVHD (aGVHD) is still a matter of debate. We analyzed 6848 adult recipients who received allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplants (HCT) between 2006 and 2011 in Japan. The subjects were divided into groups who had received myeloablative conditioning (MAC) or reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC), either with or without TBI. There was a significant difference in the incidence of aGVHD 2-4 among the different conditioning types: 39% in TBI-MAC, 35% in TBI-RIC and 32% in both no-TBI MAC and no-TBI-RIC (P<0.001). In a multivariate analysis, TBI-MAC, but not no-TBI MAC, was significantly associated with an increased risk of aGVHD 2-4 (hazard ratio (HR) 1.33, P<0.01), whereas TBI-RIC was associated with an increased risk of GVHD 3-4 (HR 1.36, P=0.048). TBI-MAC and TBI-RIC were significantly associated with skin and gastrointestinal aGVHD. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that not only TBI-MAC, but also TBI-RIC, was significantly associated with aGVHD 2-4 in older patients. Furthermore, high-dose TBI only had an adverse impact on aGVHD 2-4 in HLA-matched HCT. Impacts of intensity and TBI on aGVHD differ by patient backgrounds, and this difference should be considered to establish a risk-adapted strategy for the prevention of aGVHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Graft Processing subcommittee of the Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation wrote this guideline to assist physicians and laboratory technologists with the setting up of a cell processing laboratory (CPL) to support a hematopoietic stem cell transplant program, thereby facilitating the start-up of a transplant program in a new location and improving patient access to transplantation worldwide. This guideline describes the minimal essential features of designing such a laboratory and provides a list of equipment and supply needs and staffing recommendations. It describes the typical scope of services that a CPL is expected to perform, including product testing services, and discusses the basic principles behind the most frequent procedures. Quality management (QM) principles specific to a CPL are also discussed. References to additional guidance documents that are available worldwide to assist with QM and regulatory compliance are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graft rejection remains a major obstacle in allogeneic hematopoietic SCT following reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC-SCT), particularly after cord blood transplantation (CBT). In a murine MHC-mismatched model of RIC-SCT, primary graft rejection was associated with activation and expansion of donor-reactive host T cells in peripheral blood and BM early after SCT. Donor-derived dendritic cells are at least partly involved in host T-cell activation. We then evaluated if such an expansion of host T cells could be associated with graft rejection after RIC-CBT. Expansion of residual host lymphocytes was observed in 4/7 patients with graft rejection at 3 weeks after CBT, but in none of the 17 patients who achieved engraftment. These results suggest the crucial role of residual host T cells after RIC-SCT in graft rejection and expansion of host T cells could be a marker of graft rejection. Development of more efficient T cell-suppressive conditioning regimens may be necessary in the context of RIC-SCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cord colitis syndrome (CCS) is a recently proposed clinical entity characterized by a persistent diarrheal illness after cord blood transplantation (CBT), which is not caused by GVHD or CMV colitis. CCS is histologically characterized by chronic active colitis with granulomatous inflammation and Paneth cell metaplasia suggesting chronicity. However, the specificity of these pathological features to CCS remains to be validated. We conducted a retrospective study of 49 patients who had diarrhea and underwent diagnostic colonoscopy with biopsy following allogeneic hematopoietic SCT. None of the patients met the clinical criteria for CCS. Chronic active colitis with granulomatous inflammation and Paneth cell metaplasia was present in 12/33 (36%) patients with biopsy-proven GVHD, 4/6 (67%) patients with CMV colitis and 2/15 (13%) patients with nonspecific colitis. In patients with GVHD and/or CMV colitis, these pathological features were present in 4/8 (50%) patients after CBT and in 11/26 (42%) patients undergoing BMT or PBSCT. These results demonstrate that chronic active colitis with granuloma and Paneth cell metaplasia is not only a specific feature of CCS but also is present in GVHD and CMV colitis, irrespective of stem cell source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pretransplantation Assessment of Mortality (PAM) score is a risk score for mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic SCT (HSCT). Ethnicity is a genetically determined factor that correlated with immune-mediated outcomes of allogeneic HSCT. We evaluated the predictive value of the PAM score for transplant outcome in 276 Japanese populations in which transplant-related complications occur less frequently than Caucasians. The PAM score effectively risk-stratified these patients for survival; overall survival (OS) at 2 years was 100%, 80.2%, 49.4%, and 13.9% in the categories 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, showing a clear distinction of OS by categories (P<0.001). In addition, the PAM score is useful for the prediction of transplant outcomes both in patients with standard-risk underlying diseases and those with high-risk diseases. The PAM score developed in Caucasian populations is thus useful in non-Caucasian populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of 26 patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in the first CR (CR1) or second CR (CR2), who underwent autologous PBSCT (auto-PBSCT) between 1992 and 2008. All patients received all-trans retinoic acid-based induction therapy. After two courses of consolidation chemotherapy, upfront auto-PBSCT was performed in 20 patients in the CR1. Five patients had a high WBC count of more than 10 × 109/L (high risk), while 15 patients had a count of less than 10 × 109/L (low risk) at initial presentation. In addition, six patients, who were considered as low-risk patients at presentation, had a relapse after three cycles of consolidation and 2 years of maintenance therapy, but gained the molecular remission after re-induction and consolidation, and underwent auto-PBSCT in the CR2. In 26 recipients, engraftment was rapid and no TRM was documented. All 20 patients autotransplanted in CR1 were still in CR at a median of 133 months (73-193 months), and six patients who underwent auto-PBSCT in CR2 were also still in CR at a median of 41 months (2-187 months) without maintenance therapy. PML/RARα chimeric mRNA was undetectable in PBSC or BM samples examined before auto-PBSCT. Despite a small number of cases studied, our retrospective observations suggest that auto-PBSCT may be an effective treatment option to continue durable CR in the treatment of high-risk APL. We review previous reports and discuss the role of autotransplantation in the treatment of APL patients in CR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is generally characterized by poor prognosis after conventional chemotherapy compared with aggressive B-cell lymphoma. To elucidate the role of high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) with auto-SCT, we retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of 39 patients with PTCL who received HDCT and auto-SCT between 1990 and 2005. Eleven patients were histologically typed as angioimmunoblastic, nine as anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, seven as natural killer/T-cell lymphoma and twelve as PTCL unspecified. Clinical conditions at transplantation were complete response (CR) in 27 patients and non-CR in 12 patients. Thirty-two patients received a pre-transplant conditioning regimen (MCEC) comprising ranimustine, carboplatin, etoposide and CY, and seven did other TBI-based regimens. Rapid engraftment was obtained in all cases, and transplant-related death was not seen. An estimated 5-year OS was 62.1% with a median follow-up of 78 months. The 5-year OS was significantly higher in patients transplanted during complete response than in those during other disease status (71.4% vs 27.3%, P=0.046). HDCT supported by auto-SCT may therefore be effective as consolidation in CR for PTCL treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a 10-fold increase of T cell dose, the incidence and severity of acute GVHD following allogeneic transplantation of G-CSF-mobilized PBSC is not increased compared to BMT. Experimental murine studies demonstrate that G-CSF polarizes donor T cells toward a type 2 cytokine response. To determine whether G-CSF alters T cell cytokine responses, we investigated the effects of G-CSF administration on T cell proliferative and cytokine responses to alloantigen and Con A in nonadherent PBMC (NAC) and CD3+ T cells obtained from normal individuals before and after G-CSF administration (10 μg/kg × 4 days). Although T cell proliferative and cytokine (IFN-γ and IL-4) responses to alloantigen stimulation and Con A were significantly reduced in post-G-CSF NAC, they were restored by the removal of non-T cells from post-G-CSF NAC. Furthermore, there was less T cell alloreactivity in MLR in the presence of autologous post-G-CSF monocytes than in the presence of pre-G-CSF monocytes. This alteration was not replicated in vitro by culturing PBMC with G-CSF. These results suggest that G-CSF administration suppresses T cell proliferative and cytokine (IFN-γ and IL-4) responses to allogeneic stimulation by indirectly modulating monocyte function. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 25, 1035–1040. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the therapeutic efficacy of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT), circulating hematopoietic progenitor cells after bone marrow transplantation have not been well characterized. In the present study, we focused on these ‘post-transplant circulating progenitor cells (PTCPC)’ which may be on their way to bone marrow. We analyzed the number of myeloid progenitor cells (CFU-GM) per 10 ml of peripheral blood (PB) on days 0 (just before transplantation), 1 (8–15 h after the completion of transplantation), 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 28 and 35 after allo-BMT in five transplant patients using a standard methylcellulose assay. In addition, high proliferative potential colony-forming cells (HPP-CFC) of the harvested donor bone marrow (BM) and day 1 PB of recipients were assayed in five patients. The origin of HPP-CFC from day 1 PB was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction of a DNA region containing a variable number of tandem repeats. The replating potential of these HPP-CFC was evaluated by a secondary colony assay. The proportion of CD38negative cells among CD34+ cells in the harvested BM and day 1 PB was evaluated by two-color flow cytometric analysis. The number of CFU-GM on day 1 ranged from 6 to 73/10 ml PB, and became undetectable on day 5. The reappearance of PTCPC was observed on day 14, along with hematopoietic recovery. The proportion of HPP-CFC among myeloid colonies from day 1 PB was significantly higher than that from harvested BM (44.3 ± 10.4% vs 11.3 ± 2.1%, respectively, n = 5, P = 0.0030). These HPP-CFC from day 1 PB were confirmed to be of donor origin. More than 90% of these HPP-CFC had replating potential. Two-color flow cytometric analysis revealed that the proportion of CD34+CD38negative cells was significantly higher in day 1 PB than in the harvested BM (61.0 ± 16.5% vs 9.3 ± 3.5%, respectively, n = 7, P = 0.0002). These observations suggest... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. To improve the quality of radiation oncology in Japan, a Patterns of Care Study (PCS), a quality assurance program widely known in the United States, was introduced to Japan. In this study, the process, including work-up and treatment for uterine cervix cancer patients, was investigated to show nationwide variation by age. Methods. From July 1996 through February 1997, PCS extramural audits were performed for 29 institutions nationwide. Medical charts for 432 patients with uterine cervix cancer treated between 1992 and 1994 were reviewed based on the PCS data format used in the US. The processes of radiation therapy for these patients were compared in two age groups – those aged ≥75 years ( n = 132) and those aged <75 years ( n = 300). Results. There were significant differences by age group in medical background, indicating the fragility of the elderly and a relatively higher incidence of early-stage disease in the elderly by patient selection. Lower pelvic radiation doses were used for the elderly with advanced stage disease. There were no significant differences in unplanned breaks in external irradiation between the two age groups. Brachytherapy was used less commonly in the elderly group than in younger group ( P = 0.0187). The dose range for brachytherapy did not show any significant difference between the two groups. Preliminary survival rates for the elderly were similar to those for the younger group. Conclusion. Radiation therapy was found to play an important role in the treatment of uterine cervix cancer in elderly as well as younger patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. In Japan, the elderly population is growing rapidly, and therefore, so is the number of cancer patients who are not good candidates for aggressive surgery or chemotherapy. Radiation therapy offers excellent potential for the treatment of such patients, with minimal invasion and functional preservation. A Patterns of Care Study (PCS) examined the parameters of treatments used for patients with esophageal cancer to determine nationwide variations by age. Methods. From July 1996 through February 1997, external nationwide PCS audits were performed for 29 institutions. Medical charts were reviewed for 455 patients with thoracic esophageal cancer treated between 1992 and 1994. The parameters of treatments used for these patients were compared between those aged ≥75 years (elderly; n = 113) and those aged <75 years (yourger; n = 342). Results. Surgery was used in 49% of the younger group and in 17% of the elderly group ( P < 0.0001) while chemotherapy was used in 48% of the younger and 24% of the older group ( P < 0.0001). The ratio of non-surgery group with radiation therapy increased significantly from 49% to 82% ( P < 0.0001). Approximately 70% of the non-surgery patients received an external radiation dose of more than 60Gy, even in the elderly ( P = 0.3001). Preliminary results showed no significant difference in survival between the two age groups ( P = 0.5559). Conclusions. The use of radiation therapy in elderly people with esophageal cancer has increased markedly. The PCS provided important information about variations in radiotherapy parameters in patients with esophageal cancer in relation to age. Such information should be useful for future prospective studies of the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Strahlentherapie und Onkologie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article presents a study which determines the amount and the concentration of 1-nitropyrene (1-NP) in azalea leaves growing under traffic conditions. The study used the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detector. Results show that the leaves' ethyl acetate extract were subjected to silica gel chromatography for the removal of chlorophyll and other compounds which interfere with the 1-NP concentration.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and CMV-associated disease were monitored using the CMV antigenemia assay in 72 patients who received allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT), and their incidences were compared between related and unrelated donor transplant patients. The incidence of CMV infection after BMT was significantly higher in patients who received transplants from HLA-matched unrelated donors than from HLA-matched sibling donors (87% vs 53%, P < 0.05). cmv-associated disease developed in 73% of unrelated and in 14% of sibling donor transplant patients (P < 0.01). the peak levels of cmv antigenemia were significantly higher in unrelated donors than in sibling donor transplant patients (16 vs 1 CMV antigen-positive cells per 50 000 WBCs, P < 0.01). the median number of cmv antigen-positive cells on first detection was also significantly higher in unrelated donor transplant patients (15 vs 1, P < 0.01). the detection of cmv antigen-positive cells preceded the development of cmv-associated disease in 18% of unrelated donor transplant patients, suggesting a lower predictive value of cmv antigenemia for subsequent cmv- associated disease in unrelated donor bmt. careful monitoring and further studies are needed for the early diagnosis and prevention of cmv-associated disease in unrelated donor bmt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of our study was to determine the correlation between gallbladder opacification by delayed CT and contrast-associated nephropathy (CAN). Delayed CT after angiography was performed in 269 patients. Gallbladder opacification was defined when the CT value in gallbladder was more than 30 HU. Positive renal dysfunction was recognized as CAN which defined as an increase in serum creatinine level > 0.3 mg/dl and > 20 % on days 1, 3, or 7. Gallbladder opacification appeared in 154 of 269 (57 %) patients and CAN in 35 (13 %) patients. Of 117 patients without gallbladder opacification, 17 CAN (14 %) were recognized, and of 152 patients with gallbladder opacification, 18 CAN (12 %) were recognized. No significant correlation existed between delayed gallbladder opacification and CAN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss the light-pseudoscalar-meson system and try to establish assignments for the various η(≈1400−1500) states found in recent experimental searches. Assuming a mixing model with ground-state N and S basis states and a glueball basis state G , we fit data for the decays J/ψ→VP and J/ψ→γP and find that the physical glueball state ι is relatively pure, with a larger non-strange N component than S. Of the two states η(1420) and η(1490) we prefer the lower as a glueball, since the η(1490) does not have a strong ηππ coupling, which we expect for the glueball state ι. We also conjecture that the higher mass state η(1490) is a partner of the radially excited isospin zero state η(1295). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of pulmonary embolism was retrospectively studied in a University Chest Institute and its affiliated hospital in Sendai, Japan, whose annual numbers of discharged patients from chest medical wards and lung operations as a whole are about 600 and 400, respectively. Before 1975 there was no documented patient with pulmonary embolism. Since then 70 patients had been clinically suspected of having pulmonary embolism and 31 of the 70 were diagnosed as having pulmonary embolism; 15 without and 16 with surgical operations in the immediate past. Fourteen of the 31 patients required combined perfusion and aerosol inhalation lung imaging for diagnosis. Twelve postoperative patients could be diagnosed as pulmonary embolism by comparing postoperative perfusion lung images taken at the time of suspicion with preoperative perfusion counterparts. Although it is said to be rising, the incidence of pulmonary embolism in a chest hospital still seems to remain low compared with that in western countries. For postoperative patients, comparison with preoperative studies was found very useful in diagnosing postoperative pulmonary embolism. The importance of preoperative perfusion lung imaging cannot be overstressed not only as a preoperative lung function test but as a baseline study to be compared with postoperative perfusion images when pulmonary embolism is clinically suspected in postoperative patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermally inactivated bovine deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) and yeast enolase were reactivated by GroEL/ES from Escherichia coli. In both cases, GroEL/ES was found to have the ability to reactivate inactivated enzymes in an ATP-dependent manner. GroEL/ES can interact with the enzymes that were denatured at high temperature and convert them to the active conformations. To test the applicability of GroEL/ES to the reactivation processes of thermally inactivated enzymes, GroEL/ES was immobilized using formyl-Cellulofine (GroEL/ES-Cellulofine) and its performance was studied. GroEL/ES-Cellulofine retained a sufficiently high ability to reactivate enzymes. Moreover, GroEL/ES-Cellulofine could be used repeatedly, indicating high durability. These results indicate that immobilized chaperonin is effective for reactivation of enzymes that are thermally inactivated in various bioprocesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Il Nuovo Cimento: A is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: To examine the incidence and predisposing factors of gallbladder opacification in delayed computed tomography (CT) after angiography.Methods: CT examination 12-24 h after angiography was performed in 389 patients. Univariate and multivariate analyses were made.Results: Two hundred thirty-three of 389 patients (60%) revealed gallbladder opacification. Type of contrast medium (P < 0. 01), total bilirubin (P < 0.01), and serum creatinine (P < 0.01) were significant and independent factors relating to gallbladder opacification. Ioxaglate (70%, relative odds = 2.86) and iohexol (63%, relative odds = 2.03) showed higher gallbladder opacification rates than that of iopamidol (45%, relative odds = 1.43) and diatrizoate (30%). Patients with a lower serum bilirubin level (relative odds = 1.67) and a raised serum creatinine level (relative odds = 2.01) showed higher incidence of gallbladder opacification.Conclusion: Gallbladder opacification after angiography is not an abnormal finding on delayed CT in patients with not only abnormal renal function but also normal hepatobiliary and normal renal function, especially for modern contrast media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Il Nuovo Cimento: A is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Presents a correction to the article 'Acute graft-versus-host disease does not require alloantigen expression on host epithelium,' published in the September 2002 issue of the journal 'Nature Medicine.'