Centrilobular zonal necrosis is a unique subtype of autoimmune hepatitis: A cohort study.

BACKGROUNDS: Centrilobular zonal necrosis (CZN) is described as a histological feature present in a small number of autoimmune hepatitis (CZN-AIH) patients. CZN may be detected in the absence of significant interface hepatitis, which is the most important histological finding of AIH. The clinical and histopathological spectra of CZN-AIH were not homogeneous, and the concept of CZN-AIH as a distinctive subtype of AIH remains controversial, due to the rarity of CZN-AIH and the ambiguous definition of CZN. METHODS: To elucidate the clinical and immunogenetic features of CZN-AIH, a total of 102 biopsy samples of AIH, obtained at The Jikei University Katsushika Medical Center and Jikei University Hospital from 2000 to 2018, were reviewed. The 32 patients whose biopsies showed CZN were selected as the CZN-AIH group, and the remaining 70 were grouped as the non-CZN-AIH controls (control AIH). Data on clinical, histopathologic, and immunogenetic features were statistically compared between the CZN-AIH and the control AIH group. Additionally, the impact of the onset pattern (acute or chronic) and coexistent significant interface hepatitis in CZN-AIH was determined. RESULTS: In CZN-AIH, the frequency of acute-onset cases was significantly higher than that in control AIH (56.2% vs 32.9%; P < .05), and the number of cases with moderate-to-severe interface hepatitis in liver histology was significantly lower (37.5% vs 87.1%; P < .001). Compared to the control AIH, cases of CZN-AIH had lower immunoglobulin G level (P < .001), lower antinuclear antibodies titer (P < .001), and lower AIH score (P < .001). The immunogenetic disproportionate distribution of HLA-DR phenotypes in control AIH (increased HLA-DR4 and decreased HLA-DR9) was not found in CZN-AIH. Moreover, CZN-AIH was less frequently relapsed (P < .05). For the acute-onset CZN-AIH cases, the clinical features were hardly indistinguishable from the chronic CZN-AIH cases. Similarly, the existence of interface hepatitis did not influence on the pathophysiology of CZN-AIH. Moreover, the acute-onset CZN-AIH cases is clinically distinguishable from acute-onset control AIH. CONCLUSION: CZN can characterize as a distinct AIH subtype, regardless of onset-pattern or coexistence of significant interface hepatitis. To further strengthen this hypothesis, collection of more CZN-AIH cases is needed.

Massive accumulation of globotriaosylceramide in various tissues from a Fabry patient with a high antibody titer against alpha-galactosidase A after 6 years of enzyme replacement therapy.

Fabry disease is an X-linked metabolic disorder due to a pathogenic mutation of the GLA gene. The accumulation of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) damages multiple organs, including the heart, kidney and nervous system, especially in classical type Fabry disease. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) using recombinant alpha-galactosidase A has been shown to remove Gb3 from organs and to improve the prognosis of Fabry disease. We herein report the case of a 67-year-old classical type Fabry patient who had been treated with ERT for 6 years and who continuously showed a high antibody titer against recombinant alpha-galactosidase A during therapy. A post-mortem examination was performed after sudden death. A histological examination revealed the massive accumulation of Gb3 in various organs, even after long term ERT. In addition to the typical pathological findings as reported in tissue biopsy samples, the serious accumulation of Gb3 in the cardiac conduction system and the endocrine system was detected. Since the start of ERT for this patient might be too late to improve organ damage and prognosis, ERT should be started before the appearance of major organ involvement for the effective elimination of Gb3 and changes in the therapeutic strategy might be considered if the patient shows a high antibody titer against recombinant alpha-galactosidase A.

Esophageal perforation with orogastric tube malposition in low-birth-weight infant.

Esophageal perforation is an uncommon, but serious complication which can be caused with gastric tube placement. Physicians should suspect the malposition of the gastric tube when there is a straight course of the lower segment of the tube.

A Novel Near-infrared Fluorescent Protein, iRFP720, Facilitates Transcriptional Profiling of Prostate Cancer Bone Metastasis in Mice.

BACKGROUND: Bone represents a frequent site of prostate cancer metastasis. As the molecular mechanism remains unclear, an accessible animal model is required. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We established a novel murine metastasis model using near-infrared fluorescent protein iRFP720-labelled prostate cancer (PC3) cells. To clarify transcriptional alterations during metastasis, iRFP720-PC3 cells were intracardially injected into male mice. mRNA expression profiles of metastasis in bone using marrow cancer cells extracted by centrifugal separation and cell sorting were compared with those of parental cells by microarray. Differentially expressed genes were analyzed by pathway analysis. RESULTS: We identified 327 and 197 genes being up- and down-regulated, respectively. Pathway analysis revealed that the p53 signaling pathway, extracellular matrix receptor interaction, Mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway, cancer-related pathways, small cell lung cancer, and Escherichia coli infection response were altered. CONCLUSION: iRFP720 is useful for in vivo cell detection/isolation. The results of expression analysis may improve prostate cancer treatment strategies.

PARK2-mediated mitophagy is involved in regulation of HBEC senescence in COPD pathogenesis.

Cigarette smoke (CS)-induced mitochondrial damage with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production has been implicated in COPD pathogenesis by accelerating senescence. Mitophagy may play a pivotal role for removal of CS-induced damaged mitochondria, and the PINK1 (PTEN-induced putative kinase 1)-PARK2 pathway has been proposed as a crucial mechanism for mitophagic degradation. Therefore, we sought to investigate to determine if PINK1-PARK2-mediated mitophagy is involved in the regulation of CS extract (CSE)-induced cell senescence and in COPD pathogenesis. Mitochondrial damage, ROS production, and cell senescence were evaluated in primary human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC). Mitophagy was assessed in BEAS-2B cells stably expressing EGFP-LC3B, using confocal microscopy to measure colocalization between TOMM20-stained mitochondria and EGFP-LC3B dots as a representation of autophagosome formation. To elucidate the involvement of PINK1 and PARK2 in mitophagy, knockdown and overexpression experiments were performed. PINK1 and PARK2 protein levels in lungs from patients were evaluated by means of lung homogenate and immunohistochemistry. We demonstrated that CSE-induced mitochondrial damage was accompanied by increased ROS production and HBEC senescence. CSE-induced mitophagy was inhibited by PINK1 and PARK2 knockdown, resulting in enhanced mitochondrial ROS production and cellular senescence in HBEC. Evaluation of protein levels demonstrated decreased PARK2 in COPD lungs compared with non-COPD lungs. These results suggest that PINK1-PARK2 pathway-mediated mitophagy plays a key regulatory role in CSE-induced mitochondrial ROS production and cellular senescence in HBEC. Reduced PARK2 expression levels in COPD lung suggest that insufficient mitophagy is a part of the pathogenic sequence of COPD.

Duodenal ulcer penetration into the superior mesenteric artery after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stent placement for acute mesenteric ischemia: report of a case.

A 78-year-old male presented with the chief complaints of abdominal pain and vomiting. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography and abdominal angiography showed occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery due to thrombosis, and emergency percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stent placement were carried out. Two months later, stent thrombosis developed, and a second stent was placed. Eight months later, he complained of general fatigue and anorexia. Gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a duodenal ulcer at the third portion close to the superior mesenteric artery. Thirteen days after conservative management, duodenal ulcer penetration into the superior mesenteric artery with subsequent air embolism developed, and the patient died of multiple organ failure.

Massive splenomegaly caused by cavernous hemangiomas associated with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome: report of a case.

The etiology of Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) is not well understood. Although splenic involvement is very rare in KTS, life-threatening events such as spontaneous rupture of a splenic hemangioma may occur. We recently performed elective splenectomy for massive splenomegaly causing uncontrollable abdominal pain in a woman with KTS. The extracted spleen weighed 4260 g, and cavernous hemangiomas in the spleen were found to be the cause of the splenomegaly. The patient's abdominal pain resolved after surgery and her postoperative course was uneventful, except for persistent bleeding from the bladder. This is a rare case of KTS with associated severe splenomegaly caused by hemangiomas.

Hypogenesis of intramural vascularity and perivascular plexuses of gallbladder in patients with congenital biliary dilatation.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized neuronal disorders of the biliary tract as the cause of congenital biliary dilation (CBD). METHODS: Gallbladders were removed from a total of 15 patients who were categorized into two study groups: a CBD group (eight patients) and in a control group (neuroblastoma, acute myelogenous leukemia, wandering gallbladder, Wilms' tumor, glycogen storage disease, familial amyloid polyneuropathy; seven patients). Whole-mount preparations of the gallbladders were made to immunostain the intramural nerves. RESULTS: The intramural vascularity in the gallbladders of the CBD group (5.5 +/- 1.9/cm(2)) was significantly lower than that in the control group (27.6 +/- 14.4/cm(2)). The rate of perivascular plexuses on the surface of intramural vessels was also significantly lower in the CBD group than in the controls (37.7 +/- 18.1 vs. 80.2 +/- 17.4%, respectively). The numbers of ganglion cells per visual field were 38.5 +/- 24.0 and 42.3 +/- 20.6, respectively, in the CBD and control groups; this difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: There may be a mechanism in CBD causing contractile failure and dilatation of the biliary tract as a result of decreased intramural blood flow that accompanies the diminished vascularity.

Extrahepatic portal vein morphology in children with extrahepatic portal hypertension assessed by 3-dimensional computed tomographic portography: a new etiology of extrahepatic portal hypertension.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The cause of extrahepatic portal hypertension in children has not been clarified. Our aim was to determine the morphological features of the extrahepatic portal vein in children with extrahepatic portal hypertension by 3-dimensional computed tomographic portography and to clarify the etiology of this disorder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six patients ranging in age from 10 to 18 years (median age, 12.8 years) who had portal hypertension presented with hematemesis. They underwent intravenous computed tomographic portography using a helical computed tomography scanner and 3-dimensional image reconstruction. RESULTS: The extrahepatic portal vein was visualized in all patients by 3-dimensional computed tomographic portography. None of the patients showed extrahepatic portal vein obstruction or cavernous transformation. All patients had a tortuous eta-shaped extrahepatic portal vein, and a line could be drawn through the flexures of the portal vein to the hepatic hilum. CONCLUSION: In children, extrahepatic portal hypertension is not caused by extrahepatic portal vein obstruction and may be of embryological origin.

Colonic atresia and Hirschsprung's disease: importance of histologic examination of the distal bowel.

Hirschsprung's disease associated with colonic atresia is rare. A boy with colonic atresia at the hepatic flexure who had a colostomy in the neonatal period suffered from severe constipation after definitive colocolostomy. Hirschsprung's disease was diagnosed with anorectal manometry and rectal mucosal biopsy, and a Duhamel-Ikeda's pull-through procedure was performed. Aganglionosis of the entire distal colon was seen, and intrauterine torsion of the dilated proximal colon followed by necrosis and absorption was suspected as the cause of colonic atresia. Colonic atresia should be generally screened for Hirschsprung's disease with a rectal biopsy. J