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Kikuchi–Fujimoto disease (KFD) is rare during pregnancy. It is characterized by necrotizing lymphadenitis and often occurs in young Asian women. We report a case of KFD during pregnancy, which was difficult to diagnose. A 37‐year‐old pregnant female (gestational week [GW] 7+5) was admitted to our hospital because of hyperemesis gravidarum. On the eighth day of hospitalization (GW 8+6), she suddenly developed a fever (38.0°C) with skin rash and posterior pharynx redness. Blood tests showed pancytopenia and abnormal liver function. The patient was misdiagnosed with severe Epstein–Barr virus infection and administered with prednisolone. Subsequently, cervical lymphadenopathy was observed, and biopsy results led to the diagnosis of KFD. Thereafter, her symptoms improved, and she was discharged at GW 13+4. KFD must be included as a differential diagnosis for patients with fever, abnormal liver function, and pancytopenia during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excess water in vineyard soils during grapevine growing season is expected to become a critical issue in Japan. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of constantly high soil water content which was controlled at constantly more than 20% water content in soil on vegetative growth and berry quality of Cabernet Sauvignon over a 3-year growing season. A wireless sensor networking system for real-time monitoring of soil moisture was used to check that the experimental plot had constantly more than 20% water content in soil. Véraison in the experimental plot controlled at constantly high soil water content started 10 days, 4 days and 1 day later than that in the non-irrigated experimental plot in the 2017, 2018 and 2019 growing seasons, respectively. The constantly high soil water content had no notable effects on berry quality, such as berry characteristics and berry composition, at harvest compared with the non-irrigated experimental plot, although there was a certain tendency that constantly high soil water content decreased anthocyanin contents in berry skins compared with those of non-irrigated grapevines during the three growing seasons. We postulated that waterlogging damage due to the increase in soil water content by frequent rainfall would be minimised by the selection of rootstock that confers tolerance to waterlogging stress for scion cultivars and/or viticultural practices to prevent decrease in soil temperature. Also, the introduction of Internet of Things technology for monitoring water status in vineyard soil is expected to contribute to improving practical approaches to vineyard soil water management.

Problem: In women of reproductive age, endometriosis may contribute to dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, infertility, adenomyosis, and endometrial ovarian cyst (EOC). Recent studies have shown that chronic inflammation occurs in the pelvis of endometriosis patients and that this inflammation is exacerbated by immunosuppression, leading to survival endometrial debris. However, the detailed immunological mechanisms underlying the aggravation of inflammation and immunosuppression in endometriosis patients remain unclear. Method of Study: We investigate the alarmins (high‐mobility group box‐1, IL‐33, IL‐1α, and S100B protein), proinflammatory cytokines (IL‐6 and IL‐1β), and immune cells (CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, natural killer cells, natural killer T cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages) in peritoneal fluid of patients with EOC using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, electrochemiluminescence, and flow cytometry. Then, we analyzed the correlation between these factors and the aggravating indicators of endometriosis, tumor size and revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine (r‐ASRM) score. Results: Unexpectedly, there was no correlation between each alarmin level and aggravating indicators. However, the expression of pattern recognition receptors, toll‐like receptor 4, and receptor of advanced glycation end‐products on macrophages was inversely correlated with aggravating indicators. Conclusions: The aggravation of endometriosis is associated with a decrease in alarmin receptors but not alarmin levels. Investigation of innate immune systems, such as alarmins and their receptors, may help elucidate new mechanisms of endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Berry skin colour is a crucial determinant of red/black grape berry quality. We investigated the effects of combination treatments with amino acids and a low concentration of ABA on anthocyanin accumulation in grapes. Among the amino acids tested, isoleucine and phenylalanine resulted in high anthocyanin contents in grape cell cultures. The combination treatments with isoleucine or phenylalanine, and a low concentration of ABA enhanced anthocyanin accumulation in grape cells and detached grape berries. The combination treatment with isoleucine, but not with phenylalanine, and ABA upregulated MybA1 expression. Field-grown grapevines received combination treatments with isoleucine or phenylalanine, and ABA in two growing seasons. In the 2015 growing season, the combination treatments with isoleucine or phenylalanine, and a low concentration of ABA accelerated anthocyanin accumulation in grape berry skins of field-grown grapevines on days 10 and 31 post treatment. The effects on anthocyanin accumulation became negligible at harvest. The effect of the combination treatment with phenylalanine and a low concentration of ABA on anthocyanin accumulation was masked in the 2017 growing season due to the unexpected stimulation of anthocyanin accumulation by the low concentration of ABA, although the combination treatment accelerated anthocyanin accumulation on days 3 and 10 post treatment. Taken together, the results suggested that exogenous isoleucine and phenylalanine interacted with ABA-mediated anthocyanin accumulation in grape berry skins of field-grown grapevines when the activity of ABA used to treat the grapevines was inadequate.