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Two spayed female cats presented with hepatic encephalopathy due to hyperammonaemia. On abdominal ultrasound, concurrent portal vein thrombosis and splenosystemic shunts were suspected in both cats. Computed tomographic angiography clearly detected thrombi as non‐contrast enhancing intraluminal structures in the main portal vein of both cats. Additionally, splenorenal shunts were revealed in both cats. Follow‐up computed tomographic angiography for portal vein thrombosis was performed in both cats, only one of whom received anticoagulant therapy. In the untreated cat, portal vein thrombosis had progressed with the development of an aberrant tortuous vessel. In the cat treated with low‐molecular‐weight heparin, the thrombus progressively decreased in size and disappeared on follow‐up diagnostic imaging. Computed tomographic angiography might be useful for the diagnosis and follow‐up of portal vein thrombosis in cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the use of electrocardiography-gated non-helical CT angiography in the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in a small breed dog. The study involved a 6-year-old Maltese dog, and the CT angiography was performed using a 320-row area detector CT. The non-helical method was chosen to overcome the limitations of the helical method and to select the best reconstructed image. The study found that electrocardiography-gated non-helical CT angiography was helpful in selecting an appropriate device option for closing the patent ductus arteriosus. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Most studies on the dietary habits and overweight status of men aged 20–49 years have been cross‐sectional, with longitudinal studies being scarce. One‐quarter of Japanese men aged 20–49 years skip breakfast or have dinner within 2 h of bedtime (late dinner); therefore, the effects of these eating habits on men's increasing body weight need to be determined. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using health check‐up data provided from several health insurance societies in Japan. Participants comprised 45 524 men employees aged 20–49 years who were followed up for 3 years. The primary outcome investigated was body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg m−2. We conducted a multivariable logistic regression analysis and calculated the odds ratios for skipping breakfast and late dinner, as well as baseline age, body mass index, smoking status, eating speed, snack‐eating status, alcohol drinking frequency, physical activity, sleep habits, and the interaction between skipping breakfast and late dinner. Results: Of the participants, 17 706 (38.8%) skipped breakfast and 25 987 (57.1%) had a late dinner. At the 3‐year follow‐up, 5093 (11.2%) had a BMI ≥25 kg m−2. The odds ratios of men skipping breakfast and having a late dinner were 1.18 (95% confidence interval = 1.04–1.33) and 0.92 (95% confidence interval = 0.84–1.01), respectively. The interaction between these factors was nonsignificant. Conclusions: We suggest that skipping breakfast among men aged 20–49 years was one predictor of being overweight; however, having dinner within 2 h of bedtime was not a predictor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic noise is generated by several common sources, including electrical transmission lines and the movement of ferromagnetic materials through the Earth's magnetic field. Several types of precision instruments may be adversely affected by magnetic noise. Such instruments are often placed in a magnetically shielded room (MSR) to reduce these effects. An MSR typically consists of multiple shielding layers made of ferromagnetic materials, with openings in the walls and floor that provide ventilation and enable plumbing and electrical connections. These openings can compromise an MSR's shielding function and the integrity of its contents by allowing magnetic noise, expressed as magnetic flux density, to leak inside. Generally, a duct made of a ferromagnetic material, with or without an internal partition plate, is used to reduce the magnetic flux density entering through the room openings. In this study, we used three-dimensional magnetic field analysis and finite element methods to investigate the effects of a duct's partition plate divisions and between-plate air gap widths on magnetic flux density leakage into an MSR. Study results indicated that as the air gap width between partition plates increased, the magnetic flux density leakage decreased. When the air gap width exceeded a certain value, however, the magnetic flux density became saturated and could no longer be decreased. To minimize magnetic flux density leakage into an MSR, the optimal number of partition plate divisions was 16 and the optimal partition plate position included air gap widths ≥50 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of cultivation temperatures on the resistance reaction to three Potato virus Y strains (PVYO, PVYN and PVYNTN) in potato cultivars carrying Rychc was examined. When potato plants carrying Rychc were cultivated at 22 °C, a few small necrotic spots developed on inoculated leaves by 5 days after mechanical inoculation (dpi), and systemic infection of a few symptomless plants was confirmed at 28 dpi by IC‐RT‐PCR. At 28 °C, distinct necrotic spots developed on inoculated leaves by 5 dpi, and systemic symptoms occasionally appeared at 28 dpi. Thus, high temperature weakens Rychc‐conferred resistance. However, the incidence of systemic infection and the titre of virus in resistant cultivars at 28 °C were lower than in a susceptible cultivar. In graft inoculation under high summer temperatures, some plants developed necrosis on the leaves and stem, but PVY was barely detected by RT‐PCR in leaves on potato carrying Rychc. When seedlings from progeny tubers of plants that were inoculated with PVY and grown in a greenhouse at >30 °C in the daytime were examined by ELISA and IC‐RT‐PCR, PVY was not detected in cultivars carrying Rychc. These results show that Rychc confers an extreme resistance to PVY strains occurring in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Although Th2 cells are well known to play important roles in allergic diseases including allergic rhinitis (AR), the factors that induce and sustain the pathogenesis of AR remain unclear. The recent development of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is expected to allow changes to the underlying pathogenesis of AR. However, which Th2 cell subsets are important in house dust mite‐induced AR (HDM‐AR), the influence of SLIT on the pathogenic Th2 cells, and the association of Th2 cell subsets with SLIT efficacy have not been clarified. Methods: The cytokine production and frequency of HDM‐reactive T‐cell subsets in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were evaluated using flow cytometry in 89 HDM‐AR patients (placebo [n = 43] and HDM 300 IR [n = 46]) who participated in a placebo‐controlled study of SLIT with HDM tablets. All patients provided samples both before treatment as a baseline and at the end of the 52‐week study. The PBMCs were stained with CellTrace™ Violet (CTV) before culture with HDM extract, and HDM‐reactive T cells were detected as the proliferated cells with diminished CTV. Results: HDM‐reactive IL‐5+IL‐13+CD27−CD161+CD4+ cells and ST2+CD45RO+CD4+ cells were observed in the peripheral blood from each patient with HDM‐AR; these cells significantly decreased after SLIT in the group treated with active tablets. HDM‐reactive ST2+CD45RO+CD4+ cells were significantly lower in active‐responders. Conclusion: Allergen‐reactive ST2+CD45RO+CD4+ cells or those combined with IL‐5+IL‐13+CD27−CD161+CD4+ cells may be useful as markers indicating the successful treatment of SLIT. These cells may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AR as pathogenic memory Th2 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate pregnancy outcomes, especially the risk of pregnancy-related aortic dissection (AD), in patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) after prophylactic aortic root replacement (ARR).Design: Retrospective case series study.Setting: Tertiary perinatal care centre at a university hospital.Population: Pregnant women fulfilling the revised Ghent nosology (2010) criteria for MFS who were managed at our institute.Methods: The pregnancy outcomes of all patients with MFS managed at our institute between 1982 and September 2016 were reviewed retrospectively based on medical records.Main Outcome Measures: Obstetrical management and complication including the incidence of AD throughout the peripartum period.Results: Among 22 patients (28 pregnancies) who had been managed as potential MFS or related disorders, 14 (17 pregnancies) fulfilled the revised Ghent nosology (2010) criteria for MFS and were enrolled in this study. Five patients (five pregnancies) had received ARR before conception: three (60%) developed type B aortic dissection [AD(B)] during the peripartum period, compared with only one of 10 patients (12 pregnancies) without ARR (P < 0.05, Chi-square test).Conclusions: Our study results suggest that MFS patients after prophylactic ARR are still at high risk of AD(B) during the peripartum period. Careful pre-pregnancy counselling and multidisciplinary care throughout the peripartum period are essential for the management of MFS, even after surgical repair of an ascending aortic aneurysm.Tweetable Abstract: MFS patients after prophylactic ARR are still at high risk of type B aortic dissection during the peripartum period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) consists of three developmental stages that are based on the presence/absence of antigen‐specific IgE and symptoms. The pathogenic Th2 (Tpath2) cells constitute a population of Th2 cells with additional potentially pathogenic characteristics. We examined the relationship between Tpath2 cells and the stages of allergic rhinitis by focusing on ST2, which is an IL‐33 receptor. Methods: Patients with Japanese cedar pollen‐induced AR (JCP‐AR) and healthy volunteers were divided into “nonsensitized,” “asymptomatic sensitized (AS),” and “JCP‐AR” groups. We analyzed the ST2 expression and the Th2 function of cultured CD4+ T cells. Next, we observed the progress of patients in the AS stage around the time of seasonal pollen dispersal, with the characteristics of Th2 cells. Results: The ST2 expression of T cells was only upregulated in the AR group. The production of IL‐4 and IL‐13 was found in CD4+ T cells obtained from AS by stimulation with JCP, but reactivity to IL‐33 was not observed. Although IL‐33 did not induce the elevation of IL‐4 production in the JCP‐AR group, IL‐33 substantially increased the production of IL‐5 and IL‐13 in comparison with antigen stimulation alone. In newly afflicted patients, the increased expression of ST2 and elevated reactivity to IL‐33 was observed, even before the pollen dispersal season. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that the pathogenicity of memory Th2 cells is linked to sensitization and the stage of allergic rhinitis. Therefore, Tpath2 cells may provide useful insights into the mechanism of the onset and progression of allergic rhinitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 9-year-old female neutered Weimaraner presented with a 2-month history of progressive right head tilt, ataxia and left temporal muscle atrophy. In humans, myxoid meningioma is rare and is a form of metaplastic meningioma, characterised by the proliferation of mesenchymal components, but MRI findings, treatment and outcome do not differ from those associated with typical types of meningioma. Impression smears predominantly consisted of individual round cells (histocytes and plasma cells), suggesting a round cell tumour, such as histiocytic sarcoma (Fig 1C), but the final histopathologic diagnosis was myxoid meningioma (Fig 1D). [Extracted from the article]

Aim The study investigated the value of faecal lactoferrin as a follow-up biomarker for mucosal healing of ulcerative colitis during granulocyte and monocyte adsorptive apheresis ( GMA) therapy. Method Patients with ulcerative colitis exhibiting a moderate or severe disease activity with a partial Mayo Score ( pMS) of over 4 were enrolled in this study. The patients received 10 courses of GMA therapy. The pMS value and faecal lactoferrin level were monitored and compared with the findings of endoscopy until 12 months after the last dose of GMA therapy. Results Twenty patients (male:female 11:9) were enrolled in this study. Twelve had total colitis, while six had left-sided involvement and two had distal proctitis. Thirteen (65.0%) responded to GMA therapy. The faecal lactoferrin levels were significantly decreased in patients who responded to GMA therapy ( P < 0.05), whereas the levels did not change in non-responders. Moreover, the faecal lactoferrin levels correlated with the endoscopic findings ( r = 0.792, P < 0.01) and pMS scores ( r = 0.529, P < 0.01). The correlation coefficients between the faecal lactoferrin levels and mucosal findings were higher than those observed between the pMS score and mucosal findings. Conclusion The faecal lactoferrin level is a useful biomarker of the mucosal findings in ulcerative colitis. Although endoscopy is the gold standard, the faecal lactoferrin level can be used as a biomarker during GMA therapy in patients with ulcerative colitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Allergic rhinitis, a known risk factor for asthma onset, often accompanies mouth breathing. Mouth breathing may bypass the protective function of the nose and is anecdotally considered to increase asthma morbidity. However, there is no epidemiological evidence that mouth breathing is independently associated with asthma morbidity and sensitization to allergens. In this study, we aimed to clarify the association between mouth breathing and asthma morbidity and allergic/eosinophilic inflammation, while considering the effect of allergic rhinitis. Methods This community-based cohort study, the Nagahama Study, contained a self-reporting questionnaire on mouth breathing and medical history, blood tests, and pulmonary function testing. We enrolled 9804 general citizens of Nagahama City in the Shiga Prefecture, Japan. Results Mouth breathing was reported by 17% of the population and was independently associated with asthma morbidity. The odds ratio for asthma morbidity was 1.85 (95% CI, 1.27-2.62) and 2.20 (95% CI, 1.72-2.80) in subjects with mouth breathing alone and allergic rhinitis alone, which additively increased to 4.09 (95% CI, 3.01-5.52) when mouth breathing and allergic rhinitis coexisted. Mouth breathing in nonasthmatics was a risk for house dust mite sensitization, higher blood eosinophil counts, and lower pulmonary function after adjusting for allergic rhinitis. Conclusion Mouth breathing may increase asthma morbidity, potentially through increased sensitization to inhaled allergens, which highlights the risk of mouth-bypass breathing in the 'one airway, one disease' concept. The risk of mouth breathing should be well recognized in subjects with allergic rhinitis and in the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rusts of different kinds of weathering steels and mild steel formed by CCT and exposure to a coastal atmosphere were examined by the adsorption of nitrogen and water molecules. The specific surface area (S) of the rusts was determined from the adsorption isotherms. The rusts of the weathering steels showed higher S and smaller particle size than those of the mild steel, indicating that the weathering steels form more compact rust layers compared to the mild steel. The S of the rusts formed at different positions of a simulated girder located in the coast strongly depended on the setting position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Chronic rhinosinusitis ( CRS) can be classified into CRS with nasal polyps ( CRSw NP) and CRS without nasal polyps ( CRSs NP). CRSw NP displays more intense eosinophilic infiltration and the presence of Th2 cytokines. Mucosal eosinophilia is associated with more severe symptoms and often requires multiple surgeries because of recurrence; however, even in eosinophilic CRS ( ECRS), clinical course is variable. In this study, we wanted to set objective clinical criteria for the diagnosis of refractory CRS. Methods This was a retrospective study conducted by 15 institutions participating in the Japanese Epidemiological Survey of Refractory Eosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis ( JESREC). We evaluated patients with CRS treated with endoscopic sinus surgery ( ESS), and risk of recurrence was estimated using Cox proportional hazard models. Multiple logistic regression models and receiver operating characteristics curves were constructed to create the diagnostic criterion for ECRS. Results We analyzed 1716 patients treated with ESS. To diagnose ECRS, the JESREC scoring system assessed unilateral or bilateral disease, the presence of nasal polyps, blood eosinophilia, and dominant shadow of ethmoid sinuses in computed tomography ( CT) scans. The cutoff value of the score was 11 points (sensitivity: 83%, specificity: 66%). Blood eosinophilia (>5%), ethmoid sinus disease detected by CT scan, bronchial asthma, aspirin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs intolerance were associated significantly with recurrence. Conclusion We subdivided CRSw NP in non- ECRS, mild, moderate, and severe ECRS according to our algorithm. This classification was significantly correlated with prognosis. It is notable that this algorithm may give useful information to clinicians in the refractoriness of CRS before ESS or biopsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives This study compares the frequency of adverse transfusion reactions ( ATRs) after first transfusions with the frequency of ATRs for subsequent (non-first) transfusions. Materials and Methods Five hospitals agreed to systematically collect and share 2 years of data. This was a retrospective observational analysis of data including the number of transfusion episodes and ATRs for red blood cells ( RBCs), fresh frozen plasma ( FFP) and platelet concentrates ( PCs) given to first-time transfusion recipients and to those previously transfused. Results First transfusion ATRs to RBCs, FFP and PCs were 1·08%, 2·84% and 3·34%, respectively. These are higher than ATR incidences to RBCs (0·69%), FFP (1·91%) and PCs (2·75%) on subsequent transfusions. Specifically, first transfusion incidences of febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reactions ( FNHTRs) to RBCs (0·43%) and allergic reactions to FFP (2·51%) were higher than on subsequent transfusions ( RBCs: 0·23%, FFP: 1·65%). Conclusion There are risks of ATRs on the first transfusion as well as transfusions of patients with transfusion history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cemented carbide (WC-Co) is used in cutting tools such as drills and end mills. However, since relatively scarce metals such as W and Co are expensive, development of alternative materials with comparable mechanical properties and chemical stability is required. For this purpose, CrN-Ni, consisting of a CrN ceramic and a Ni binder, is considered to be a promising material because thin films of CrN exhibit high hardness, oxidation resistance and corrosion resistance. In this study, sintered CrN-Ni composites were prepared from a mixed powder of Cr2N and Ni. The Cr:Ni molar ratio was varied from 10:0 to 8:2. In order to obtain the CrN phase from Cr2N, the mixed powder was sandwiched between layers of Mg3N2 powder, which decomposes at elevated temperatures to produce nitrogen. The green compacts were subjected to hot-press sintering under a pressure of 70 MPa between upper and lower graphite punches. After evacuation of the hot press down to 3.6 Pa, nitrogen gas was introduced at a pressure of 3.3×10³ Pa. The sintered bulks were characterized by X-ray diffraction. The CrN bulk sintered at 1000 °C was of a single phase with a high density (6.11 g cm-3), and the Vickers hardness was 1000 kgf mm-2. Moreover, the CrN-Ni composite sintered at 1200 °C obtained core-rim structure with CrN grains surrounded by nickel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neoplastic environment is generally regarded as an immunosuppressive milieu. However, a group of cancers are characterized by the abundance of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Here we examined the possible roles of chemokines in the formation of lymphoid stroma in lymphocyte-rich gastric carcinomas (GCs), including EBV+ cases and conventional GCs. Regardless of EBV positivity, TILs in lymphocyte-rich GCs predominantly expressed CXCR3, while its ligand CXCL9 was abundantly expressed by stromal cells and a portion of cancer cells. CXCL9+ stromal cells were judged to include dendritic cells, because they partly co-expressed fascin, DC-sign, CD83, DC-lamp or HLA-DR. T cells in close contact with CXCL9+ cells showed frequent labelling of Ki-67 (approximately 10%), suggesting the immunostimulatory activity of CXCL9+ stromal cells. The T-cell zone of the regional lymph nodes of lymphocyte-rich GCs also abounded with CXCR3+ T cells and CXCL9+ stromal cells. This indicated a close similarity between cancer stroma and regional lymph nodes of lymphocyte-rich GCs. Quantitative RT-PCR also confirmed the strong expression of CXCR3, CXCL9 and IFNγ in lymphocyte-rich GCs. In contrast, conventional GCs contained less abundant CXCR3+ T cells and few CXCL9+ stromal cells. Collectively, the CXCL9-CXCR3 axis plays a pivotal role in the formation of lymphoid stroma in lymphocyte-rich GCs. Given similar findings in the regional lymph nodes, the lymphoid stroma of lymphocyte-rich GCs may represent a tertiary lymphoid tissue with predominantly Th1-shifted immune responses. Copyright © 2008 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic sinusitis (CS) with asthma generally exhibits a high degree of sinus tissue eosinophilia and recurrence often occurs even after surgical therapy. However, the cause has not yet been fully clarified. Aims of the study: To elucidate the pathogenesis of this refractory disease, we examined the infiltration of natural killer T (NKT) and type 1 helper T (Th1)/type 2 helper T (Th2) cells, and the cytokine expression in the sinus mucosa. Methods: Sinus mucosal specimens were obtained surgically from 16 CS patients with nasal polyps. The NKT cells, Th1/Th2 cells and the expression of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IFN-γ were examined by a polymerase chain reaction or flow cytometry. Nasal mucosal specimens from six other patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) were examined in a similar manner. Results: The NKT cells were detected to varying degrees in the sinus mucosa from asthmatic CS patients, but neither in the nonasthmatics nor in the nasal mucosa from the patients with AR. The Th2 cells and Th2 cytokines were expressed at significantly higher levels in the sinus mucosa from the CS patients with asthma in comparison to those without asthma. However, the Th1 cell infiltration and IFN-γ expression were not different between these groups. Conclusion: Natural killer T cells may, therefore, play important roles in the enhanced Th2 cytokine expression and increased infiltration of Th2 cells and eosinophils observed in the sinus mucosa from asthmatic CS patients through MHC-independent mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study demonstrates that the intraperitoneal administration of soluble leishmanial antigen (SLA) entrapped in liposomes coated with neoglycolipids containing oligomannose residues (mannopentaose or mannotriose) strongly induces an antigen-specific T-helper type 1 (Th1) immune response in BALB/c mice. In response to in vitro stimulation with SLA, spleen cells from mice that had received oligomannose-coated liposomes encasing SLA (SLA-OML) displayed greater interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-2 production and lower IL-4 and IL-5 production than spleen cells from mice that had received SLA alone, indicating that the SLA-specific Th1 immune response had predominantly been induced in the mice that had received SLA-OML. After subsequent infection with Leishmania major , mice that had received SLA-OML were effectively protected against the disease, with a predominant production of IFN-γ. OML were preferentially and rapidly incorporated into peritoneal macrophages, and the transplantation of macrophages containing SLA-OML into the peritoneal cavity also induced protection against L. major infection. Thus, SLA-OML were shown to successfully induce a specific Th1 immune response capable of controlling L. major infection in BALB/c mice through the effective uptake of OML by peritoneal macrophages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"T-SLIP" MRI imaging of cerebrospinal fluid flow through the mesencephalic aqueduct T-SLIP images were acquired only after surgery (because we needed to limit anaesthesia time when the dog initially presented as an emergency) and confirmed CSF flow through the aqueduct (Fig., Video S1, Supporting information). Before shunting, the lateral and third ventricles are enlarged and CSF signal in the cerebral sulci is not visible (a: arrow heads). [Extracted from the article]

Background: Due to the low measles vaccination rate, localized measles epidemics occasionally occur in Japan with the majority of sufferers being children under 2 years of age. Despite an increased risk of infection at day-care centers, the measles vaccination coverage for day-care attendees is lower than children who are reared-at-home or attend kindergartens. This study aims to describe the current state of measles prevention policy at day-care centers and to examine factors associated with vaccine promotion. Methods: A cross-sectional study using anonymous self-administered questionnaires were distributed to the director or person-in-charge at 250 all licensed day-care centers in Kyoto City, Japan, in 2004. The preventive measures against measles at day-care centers and factors related to carrying out the promotion of measles vaccination were examined. Descriptive statistics and odds ratios (OR) using a logistical model were presented. Results: Out of 250 day-care centers, 187 questionnaires were returned (response rate, 74.8%). Measles vaccination history was taken at 161 day-care centers (86.1%) at the time of enrolment; only 61 day-care centers (32.6%) took a history during the school year. A total of 101 day-care centers (54.0%) promoted measles vaccination in day-care attendees who had not yet been immunized. Day-care centers which promoted it were more likely to be 'public facility' (OR, 3.09) and 'having opportunities to learn about vaccination' (OR, 5.55). After adjustment, 'having opportunities to learn about vaccination' and 'having knowledge that measles vaccination is best under the age of 15 months' were significantly related to carrying out the promotion of measles vaccination (OR, 6.47; 95% confidence interval, 2.52-18.61; OR, 3.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.45-6.95, respectively). Conclusion: Preventive measures for measles at day-care centers are currently insufficient. Increasing opportunities to learn about vaccination may encourage promotional behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Mononuclear cell infiltration of the salivary glands is a major feature of Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and its animal model. Local generation of chemokines and the presence of chemokine receptors on the infiltrating cells may be involved in this process. We undertook the present study to investigate the expression of chemokines during the development of autoimmune sialadenitis in MRL/lpr mice and the therapeutic effect of chemokine antagonists on sialadenitis. METHODS: NH2-terminal-truncated interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP-10)/CXCL10 analogs were transfected into a nonmetastatic fibroblastoid cell line, MRL/N-1, and injected subcutaneously into MRL/lpr mice, and the effects on sialadenitis were monitored. RESULTS: IP-10 analogs truncated by 5 or more amino acid residues from the N-terminal failed to induce chemotaxis and calcium influx by CXCR3-expressing cells. Of these, the most potent antagonist (AT) (IP-10-AT) was a molecule with methionine added after removal of the 5 N-terminal amino acid residues. Significantly increased expression of the Th1-associated chemokines IP-10, monokine induced by interferon-gamma/CXCL9, and interferon-inducible T cell chemoattractant/CXCL11 was induced in the ductal epithelium by interferon-gamma produced in the salivary glands, whereas expression of the Th2-associated chemokines thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC)/CCL17 and monocyte-derived chemokine/CCL22 was almost undetectable during sialadenitis. Inoculation of IP-10-AT into MRL/lpr mice during the early stage of sialadenitis significantly reduced periductal mononuclear cell infiltration and parenchymal destruction compared with these features in control and TARC-AT-bearing mice. This was due to a significant reduction in infiltration of CXCR3+ T cells, predominantly Th1 cells, resulting in decreased interferon-gamma production. CONCLUSION: We prepared a novel potent IP-10 antagonist and demonstrated its ability to ameliorate the progression of autoimmune sialadenitis. This agent may provide a new therapeutic approach to SS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angle of progression (AoP) in transperineal ultrasound (TPU) is used as a parameter for precise assessment of the fatal head descent in labour. On ROC curve to predict CS due to arrested labour based on the AoP after AoP reached 90°, AoP < 6.0°/hr and AoP > 120°was the cut-off with sensitivity 87.5% and specificity 82.6%. AoP after AoP reaches 90° was implied to be a useful clinical parameter to determine the necessity of CS due to arrested labour. [Extracted from the article]

Alipov G, Nakayama T, Ito M, Kawai K, Naito S, Nakashima M, Niino D&Sekine I(2005)Histopathology46,202–208Overexpression of Ets-1 proto-oncogene in latent and clinical prostatic carcinomas: The high incidence of clinically diagnosed prostatic cancer is exceeded by the frequency of tumours detected at autopsy. The Ets-1 proto-oncogene is expressed by a variety of malignant and normal tissues. Therefore, in this study, expression of Ets-1 protein was investigated in‘latent’ prostatic cancer detected at autopsy, compared with benign prostatic hyperplasia, normal prostatic tissues and clinical prostatic cancer.: Using immunohistochemistry, we analysed Ets-1 expression in 95 prostatic specimens including 19 cases of latent prostatic carcinoma (LPC) and 55 cases of clinical prostatic carcinoma (CPC), 11 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 10 cases of normal prostate (NP). Differences in the incidence of LPC and CPC suggest different courses for the biological progression of prostatic cancer. There was a significant difference in the degree of Ets-1 expression in CPC and LPC (P < 0.05). Ets-1 was not expressed in BPH and NP, but in malignant cases (57 of 74; 77.0%) commonly demonstrated immunoreactivity in the tumour cells. In our study the expression of Ets-1 between benign and malignant, and well, moderately and poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas of prostatic cancer showed significant differences. The presence of Ets-1 mRNA was confirmed byin-situhybridization in human prostatic tissues.: Our results suggest that Ets-1 might play an important role in carcinogenesis and/or the progression of human prostatic carcinomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nakayama T, Yoshizaki A, Kawahara N, Ohtsuru A, Wen C Y, Fukuda E, Nakashima M & Sekine I (2004) Histopathology 44, 232–239 Expression of Tie-1 and 2 receptors, and angiopoietin-1, 2 and 4 in gastric carcinoma; immunohistochemical analyses and correlation with clinicopathological factors There is strong evidence that tyrosine kinases are involved in the regulation of tumour progression, cellular growth and differentiation. Recently, many kinds of tyrosine kinase receptors have been reported, and among them Tie-1 and 2 constitute a major class. Angiopoietin (Ang)-1 is known as a ligand of the Tie-2 tyrosine kinase receptor. The aim of this study was to determine the expression profile of Tie-1 and 2 and Ang-1, 2 and 4 in gastric adenocarcinoma. Eighty-nine cases of surgically resected human gastric adenocarcinoma were studied by immunohistochemistry. Of these, 60 (67.4%), 61 (68.5%), 69 (77.5%), 75 (84.3%), and 47 cases (52.8%) showed positive staining in the cytoplasm of carcinoma cells for the Tie-1 and 2 and Ang-1, 2 and 4 proteins, respectively. The expression of Ties and Angs was significantly correlated with several type of histological differentiation and several clinicopathological factors. Ties and Angs were highly expressed in human gastric adenocarcinoma cells. These findings suggest that the Tie–Ang receptor–ligand complex is one of the factors involved in the cellular differentiation and progression of human gastric adenocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic immediate reactions including anaphylaxis to gelatin in vaccines have been reported. However, the number of such reports is very small compared with the number of children exposed to gelatin. The present study was designed to investigate whether susceptibility or resistance to gelatin allergy is associated with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II gene. Blood samples were obtained from 49 patients with gelatin allergy and specific IgE to gelatin. DNA-based HLA class II typing was performed to determine the DRB1, DQB1 and DPB1 alleles. Genotype frequencies were compared with those found in 240 unrelated controls. The frequency of DQB1*0303 (55.1%) was significantly higher in the patients than in the control subjects (32.1%). The frequency of DPB1*0402 was also significantly higher in the patients (32.7%) than in the control subjects (15.4%). On the other hand, the frequency of subjects carrying DRB1*15 (DRB1*1501 and DRB1*1502) was significantly lower among the patients group (18.4%) than among the controls (40.8%). We found that DQB1*0303 and DPB1*0402 were positively associated with the IgE response for gelatin, while DRB1*15 was negatively associated with it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In previous studies, we suggested that the tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α and its receptor 2 (TNFR2) genes could be associated with the susceptibility to human narcolepsy, and that haplotype carrying DRB1*1502 had a negative association with the disorder. To further evaluate these associations, we herein compared narcoleptic patients with healthy individuals who, like the patients, possessed both DRB1*1501 and DQB1*0602. Results agreed with the negative association of DRB1*1502 and positive association of the TNF-α(-857T) and TNFR2-196R combination with the disorder. In addition, a significant association of the TNF-α(-857T) homozygote with the disorder and an increase in a rare haplotype carrying DRB1*1501 and TNF-α(-857T) in the patients were also observed in the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This study was designed to evaluate the immunogenic characteristics of enzymatically digested gelatin, ‘FreAlagin’, employing the lymphoproliferative response in subjects with gelatin hypersensitivity. Our purpose was to assess the response of primed lymphocytes to the newly developed FreAlagin and compare it to the response to conventional gelatin. Methods A gelatin-specific lymphocyte proliferation test (LPT) was performed in 110 children with adverse reactions to gelatin-containing vaccines, who showed positive gelatin-specific cell-mediated immunity and were thus diagnosed as having gelatin hypersensitivity. Gelatin-specific IgE was measured in all subjects. The antigenic activity of FreAlagin to lymphocytes was compared with that of conventional bovine gelatin. Positive and negative control specimens were obtained from the patients with anaphylaxis and from subjects inoculated with gelatin-free vaccine who showed no adverse reactions in order to establish the fluorometric ELISA system to determine IgE antibody to gelatin and LPT. Results The lymphocyte activity against FreAlagin was much less than that to Wako gelatin and more than half of the subjects who reacted positively to Wako gelatin had a negative LPT to FreAlagin. Although 47% of the subjects had positive LPTs to FreAlagin, all but two still had lower SIs to FreAlagin compared with Wako gelatin. Conclusion We conclude that the antigenic activity of FreAlagin as measured by the cell-mediated immune response is significantly less than that of conventional bovine gelatin. However, it is still necessary to perform clinical trials to show a reduced or absent clinical reactivity to FreAlagin in sensitized patients to conventional gelatin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary By targeted disruption of the MIF gene, we have established a mouse strain deficient in macrophage (Mφ) migration inhibitory factor (MIF). Despite previous reports indicating an essential role of MIF in endotoxaemia, an injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the MIF‐deficient mice (maintained under specific pathogen‐free conditions) caused shock. No significant difference was detected between the MIF‐deficient mutant and normal mice in susceptibility to LPS for endotoxaemia or tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) formation upon LPS injection. Peritoneal Mφ from the two strains produced TNF‐α in response to LPS with similar dose responses. Dexamethasone suppressed the LPS‐induced TNF‐α response of Mφ, but no difference was detected between the Mφ from the two strains. These results suggest that endogenous MIF has no significant effect on the LPS‐induced TNF‐α production and no effect on suppression of the response by glucocorticoids. Thus, MIF is not crucial for LPS‐induced immune responses leading to shock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor necrosis factor α plays a substantial role in a number of conditions such as inflammation, autoimmunity, insulin resistance and sleep. Three new single nucleotide polymorphisms, -1,031 T/C, -863 C/A and -857 T/C, were recently identified in the upstream 5′-flanking region of TNFA in the Japanese population. In the present study, we developed polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-preferential homoduplex formation assay for the single-step allele typing of TNFA, and determined the genotypes of 271 healthy unrelated Japanese individuals. Four haplotypes, -1,031/-863/-857 TCC, TCT, CAC and CCC, were found to constitute the majority, if not all, of the TNFA alleles of healthy Japanese population. These alleles were designated as TNFA-U01, -U02, -U03 and -U04, respectively, in the order of frequency. Based on HLA-A, -B and -DRB1 genotypes together with TNFA genotypes, multi-locus haplotypes were analyzed. Significant positive associations were observed between TNFA-U01 and A*3303, B*5201, B*4403, B*4601, B*0702, DRB1*1502, DRB1*0101, DRB1*1302, between TNFA-U02 and B*5401, B*3501, DRB1*0405, DRB1*0407, between TNFA-U03 and B*4006, B*4002, DRB1*0803, DRB1*0802, DRB1*0403, DRB1*0901, and between TNFA-U04 and B*4801. Four-locus haplotype estimation revealed that A*3303-B*4403-TNFA-U01-DRB1*1302, A*2402-B*5201-TNFA-U01-DRB1*1502 and A*2402-B*5401-TNFA-U02-DRB1*0405 constitute major extended haplotypes in Japanese. Interestingly, TNFA alleles previously shown to have a higher promoter activity (U02, U03) were found to form haplotypes with certain DRB1 alleles associated with T helper 1 (Th1)-dominant diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and Crohn’s disease in Japanese. In contrast, TNFA allele with a low promoter activity (U01) is in linkage disequilibrium with the DRB1 alleles associated with T helper 2 (Th2)-dominant diseases such as atopic dermatitis and ulcerative colitis. These observations raise the possi... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I-J has found to be an inducible isomorphic molecule expressed on class II-restricted T cells. It undergoes a systematic adaptive change in radiation done marrow chimeras according to the environmental major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Recent biochemical studies demonstrated that I-J id a homodimer of MW 84,000–90,000 composed of 42,000–46,000 MW glycopeptide subunits. The molecule is different from class II-restricted T-cell receptor, class II antigens or putative mouse CD28. The ligation of I-J molecules anti-I-J result in the suppression of T-cell responses by the inhibition of early signal transduction through antigen recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have previously shown that tumor necrosis faetor-α (TNF-α) reduces interleukin-4 (IL-4)-induced FccRII expression in human monocytes. It has been shown that TNF-α activates nuclear transcriptional factors through the generation of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROIs), and antioxidant N-acetyleysteine (NAC) inhibits TNF-α-indueed activation of nuclear transcriptional factors. Therefore, we hypothesized that TNF-α-dependent reduction of IL-4-induced FccRII expression in monocytes might be mediated through the ROIs-aetivated mechanism. In the present study, to test our hypothesis, we examined the effect of NAC on TNF-α-dependent reduction of IL-4-induced FccRII expression in human monocytes. NAC attenuated TNF-a-dependent reduction of IL-4-indueed FccRII expression by attenuating TNF-α-dependent reduction of FccRlI mRNA expression. Similarly, the structurally unrelated antioxidant, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), also effectively attenuated this reduction. These results indicate that an ROIs-activated and antioxidant-sensitive mechanism might be involved in TNF-α-dependent reduction of IL-4-indueed FccRII expression in monocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]