Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Show: 20 | 50 | 100
Results 1 - 20 de 32
Filter
2.
Anal Sci ; 32(3): 355-9, 2016.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26960618

ABSTRACT

A detection method of gold nanoparticles in chromatography paper has been developed for a simple, cost-effective and reliable quantitation of immunochromatographic strip test. The time courses of the solution resistance in chromatography paper with the gold nanoparticles solution are electrochemically measured by chrono-impedimetry. The dependence of the solution resistance on the concentration of gold nanoparticles has been successfully observed. The main factor to increase the solution resistance may be obstruction of the ion transport due to the presence of gold nanoparticles. The existence of gold nanoparticles with 1.92 × 10(9) particles/mL in an indistinctly-colored chromatography paper is also identified by a solution resistance measurement. This indicates that the solution resistance assay has the potential to lower the detection limit of the conventional qualitative assay.


Subject(s)
Chromatography, Affinity/methods , Chromatography, Paper/methods , Colloids/analysis , Electric Impedance , Gold/analysis , Metal Nanoparticles/chemistry , Chromatography, Affinity/instrumentation , Chromatography, Paper/instrumentation , Colloids/chemistry , Equipment Design , Gold/chemistry , Metal Nanoparticles/analysis , Particle Size , Reagent Strips
3.
J Gastroenterol Hepatol ; 31(8): 1443-52, 2016 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26676714

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) terminates serotonin activity by removing it from interstitial space. Downregulated colonic SERT expression has been reported in irritable bowel disease (IBS), and symptoms resembling IBS occur in cases of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in remission; thus, a common pathogenesis for IBS and IBD is possible. However, little is known regarding SERT expression in colonic mucosa of IBD patients during healing. METHODS: Twenty-two ulcerative colitis (UC) patients underwent colonoscopy examinations, during which inflamed mucosa was distinguished from that undergoing healing. Healing mucosa was classified into regular and irregular vessel patterns by narrowband imaging magnifying colonoscopy. Expressions of SERT and various inflammation-related genes in biopsy samples were assessed using a polymerase chain reaction array system and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Colitis model mice were established by administration of dextran sodium sulfate or transfer of CD4(+) T cells isolated from SAMP1 mice, then time-course changes of SERT and inflammatory gene expressions were observed in colonic mucosa. RESULTS: In UC patients, SERT expression in inflamed mucosa was significantly lower than in healing mucosa. SERT expression was decreased in healing mucosa with an irregular vessel pattern with mildly increased levels of inflammatory gene expression. In mice, SERT expression was suppressed in inflamed mucosa and continuously observed with low-grade mucosal inflammation during colitis healing. CONCLUSIONS: Sserotonin reuptake transporter expression is downregulated in healing colonic mucosa of UC patients and that suppression may be dependent on the presence of remaining low-grade colonic inflammation.


Subject(s)
Colitis, Ulcerative/genetics , Colon/metabolism , Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism , Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics , Wound Healing , Adoptive Transfer , Animals , Biopsy , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/transplantation , Colitis, Ulcerative/immunology , Colitis, Ulcerative/pathology , Colon/immunology , Colon/pathology , Colonoscopy , Dextran Sulfate , Disease Models, Animal , Down-Regulation , Female , Gene Expression Profiling/methods , Humans , Intestinal Mucosa/immunology , Intestinal Mucosa/pathology , Male , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Mice, SCID , Middle Aged , Neovascularization, Physiologic , Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Time Factors , Tryptophan Hydroxylase/genetics
4.
Pediatr Int ; 58(2): 155-8, 2016 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26669680

ABSTRACT

An 11-year-old boy presented with fever and abdominal pain, and was diagnosed with retroperitoneal lymphadenitis. At the same time, a painless right scrotal mass was observed. On imaging the testis and the epididymal mass both had abundant blood flow, although tumor markers were negative. Although the right testis had shrunk after antibiotic treatment, swelling was persistent and incisional biopsy was therefore performed, resulting in diagnosis of granulomatous orchitis (GO). No recurrence was found. In cases of scrotal swelling in both the testis and the epididymis of an older child, it is necessary to consider the possibility of inflammatory GO, and orchiectomy should not be performed without careful consideration.


Subject(s)
Granuloma/diagnosis , Orchitis/diagnosis , Testis/pathology , Biopsy , Child , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Male , Orchiectomy , Orchitis/pathology , Orchitis/therapy
5.
Diagn Pathol ; 10: 104, 2015 Jul 16.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26428868

ABSTRACT

Nephrogenic adenoma, also referred to nephrogenic metaplasia, is a benign proliferative lesion of urothelium, usually associated with chronic physical stimuli or inflammation. Familial Mediterranean fever is an inherited autosomal recessive disease characterized by recurrent short episodes of fever. The site of mutation is found in MEFV gene which controls inflammatory responses. We have experienced a case of nephrogenic adenoma in a 16-year-old girl with Familial Mediterranean Fever, showing proliferative lesions diffusely in the urinary bladder and multifocally in the other parts of urinary tract. These lesions disappeared after colchicine treatment. We searched for MEFV gene mutation using the specimen from the resected urinary bladder and detected heterozygous mutation of E148Q. There is a possibility that control of inflammation caused by the surgery for vesicoureteral reflux in the local site didn't work well on the background of heterozygous mutation of MEFV gene, and as a result, nephrogenic adenoma appeared. This is the first report of a combination of two rare diseases. We have to be aware that nephrogenic adenoma can occur in association with Familial Mediterranean Fever, and the former condition should be taken into consideration when rendering a correct pathological diagnosis.


Subject(s)
Familial Mediterranean Fever/complications , Familial Mediterranean Fever/genetics , Urinary Bladder Diseases/etiology , Urinary Bladder/pathology , Adolescent , Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics , Female , Humans , Kidney Diseases/etiology , Mutation , Pyrin
6.
Urol J ; 12(3): 2165-72, 2015 Jul 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26135933

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We investigated the clinical significance of chromogranin A (CgA) expression as a neuroendocrine (NE) marker during prostate cancer (PCa) progression, especially as a potential predictor of chemotherapeutic response in castration-resistant PCa (CRPC) patients based on immunohistochemical findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen CRPC patients who underwent combination (docetaxel/estramustine/ carboplatin; DEC) chemotherapy were retrospectively studied. Immunostaining of CgA was performed using prostate biopsy samples obtained at the initial PCa diagnosis, during androgen deprivation therapy, at the time of CRPC diagnosis, and after 2 cycles of DEC therapy. The positive rate was expressed as the mean percentage of positively stained tumor cells against the total number of tumor cells. Differences in positive rates among the treatment courses were compared using a Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: The mean percentage of CgA-positive PCa cells increased in a stepwise manner until CRPC development and then significantly decreased after DEC therapy. Subanalysis of CgA at CRPC diagnosis showed a more evident reduction of CgA expression after DEC therapy in patients who also had a high level of CgA as compared to those with a low CgA level (P = .003). Likewise, longer prostate-specific antigen progression-free survival was related to CRPC and high CgA (P = .028). CONCLUSION: NE differentiation of PCa cells is accelerated despite androgen deprivation and reaches a peak at the time of CRPC diagnosis. Although further studies using larger samples are needed, CgA expression in CRPC may be a candidate tissue biomarker to reflect the chemotherapy sensitivity of individual PCa cells.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Chromogranin A/biosynthesis , Prostatic Neoplasms/metabolism , Aged , Carboplatin/administration & dosage , Disease Progression , Disease-Free Survival , Docetaxel , Estramustine/administration & dosage , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prognosis , Prostate/metabolism , Prostate/pathology , Prostate-Specific Antigen/metabolism , Prostatic Neoplasms/drug therapy , Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology , Retrospective Studies , Taxoids/administration & dosage
7.
Eur J Dermatol ; 25(2): 156-61, 2015 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26075323

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Invasive cases of extramammary Paget's disease have a poor prognosis, owing to its rapid progression and resistance to irradiation and chemotherapy. Morton et al. introduced a technique to identify sentinel lymph nodes by local injection of vital dyes and reported its benefit for managing the progress of malignant melanoma. OBJECTIVES: Since the rate of lymph node metastasis of extramammary Paget's disease is not uncommon (reported from 8.5% to 26%), this study tested the hypothesis that sentinel lymph node biopsy would be useful to detect lymph node metastasis in the clinically early stage of extramammary Paget's disease. MATERIALS & METHODS: Eighteen patients with primary extramammary Paget's disease were enrolled in the study. The precise location of sentinel lymph nodes was visualized using either intraoperative patent blue dye injection or indocyanine green dye injection in combination with a hand-held gamma-detecting probe after a 99mTc phytate injection. RESULTS: Of the 18 patients, sentinel lymph node metastasis was identified in 2 (Cases 2 and 15) of the 2 patients with deep invasion and in 1 (Case 12) of the 7 patients with minimal dermal invasion, however, it was absent in 9 patients who had been categorized into the intraepidermal group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that extramammary Paget's disease possibly causes metastasis via regional lymphatic systems to which the lesion belongs, even in the early stages of no nodule or tumor formation, and that sentinel lymph node biopsy is useful to detect lymph node metastasis.


Subject(s)
Genital Neoplasms, Female/pathology , Genital Neoplasms, Male/pathology , Lymph Node Excision , Lymph Nodes/pathology , Paget Disease, Extramammary/secondary , Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy , Skin Neoplasms/pathology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Axilla , Coloring Agents , Female , Genital Neoplasms, Female/surgery , Genital Neoplasms, Male/surgery , Groin , Humans , Indocyanine Green , Lymph Nodes/surgery , Lymphatic Metastasis , Lymphoscintigraphy , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Invasiveness , Organotechnetium Compounds , Paget Disease, Extramammary/surgery , Phytic Acid , Radiopharmaceuticals , Rosaniline Dyes , Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy/methods , Skin Neoplasms/surgery , Treatment Outcome
8.
World J Gastroenterol ; 21(7): 2116-23, 2015 Feb 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25717246

ABSTRACT

AIM: To investigate the predictors of proximal kidney tubular dysfunction (PKTD) induced by adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) treatment for chronic hepatitis B. METHODS: Seventy-nine patients (age at the evaluation of PKTD: 56.9±10.7 years) with chronic hepatitis B undergoing long-term oral antiviral nucleos(t)ide analogue treatment were consecutively recruited. PKTD was defined by the presence of at least two of the following five abnormalities: phosphate diabetes, nondiabetic glucosuria, metabolic acidosis, ß2-microglobulinuria, or renal hypouricemia. The single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the SLC22A6 gene encoding human organic anion transporter 1 (hOAT1) and ABCC2 encoding multidrug resistance protein 2 (MRP2) were analyzed using the TaqMan Allelic Discrimination Demonstration Kit. RESULTS: Nine (30.0%) of the 30 ADV-treated patients were diagnosed with PKTD, while no patients without ADV developed PKTD (P<0.001). Three patients with ADV were diagnosed with symptomatic osteomalacia. Among the patients who took ADV, those with PKTD were of higher age at initiation, had significantly longer treatment duration, and had a significantly lower body mass index than those without PKTD. The incidence of PKTD dramatically increased after 96 mo from the start of ADV administration. In contrast, the SNPs were not correlated with PKTD. Logistic regression analysis extracted older age at initiation (OR=5.0, 95%CI: 1.1-23.4; P=0.040) and longer treatment duration (OR=3.2, 95%CI: 1.2-8.6; P=0.020) as significant factors associated with PKTD. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the tubular function of the kidney of older patients undergoing long-term ADV treatment should be carefully evaluated.


Subject(s)
Adenine/analogs & derivatives , Antiviral Agents/adverse effects , Hepatitis B, Chronic/drug therapy , Kidney Diseases/chemically induced , Kidney Tubules, Proximal/drug effects , Organophosphonates/adverse effects , Adenine/adverse effects , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Chi-Square Distribution , Female , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Hepatitis B, Chronic/diagnosis , Hepatitis B, Chronic/epidemiology , Humans , Japan/epidemiology , Kidney Diseases/diagnosis , Kidney Diseases/epidemiology , Kidney Diseases/genetics , Kidney Diseases/physiopathology , Kidney Tubules, Proximal/physiopathology , Logistic Models , Male , Middle Aged , Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2 , Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins/genetics , Odds Ratio , Organic Anion Transport Protein 1/genetics , Osteomalacia/chemically induced , Osteomalacia/epidemiology , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Prevalence , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Time Factors
9.
Am J Surg Pathol ; 39(4): 521-7, 2015 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25581733

ABSTRACT

There are surprisingly limited data regarding normal counts or distribution of eosinophils in the gastrointestinal tract, despite the increasing incidence of eosinophilic gastrointestinal tract diseases. Moreover, there are no published reports on the eosinophil number throughout the gastrointestinal tract of adults or Asian populations, or those investigating the effect of race on eosinophil count. First, in our study, the number of eosinophils from each portion of the gastrointestinal mucosa was quantified on biopsy slides from a Japanese adult population (132 samples). Next, the surgical resections from Japanese (110 samples), Japanese Americans (64), and Caucasians (57) were used to investigate the racial and environmental effects. Our results with the Japanese biopsy samples showed a significant increase in the number of eosinophils from the esophagus to the right colon (mean±SD/mm: 0.07±0.43 for the esophagus, 12.18±11.39 for the stomach, and 36.59±15.50 for the right colon), compared with a decrease in the left colon (8.53±7.83). Investigation using surgical samples showed that the distribution patterns in the gastrointestinal tract were very similar among the 3 ethnic groups, and there were no significant differences in the number of eosinophils among these groups, except in the esophageal epithelium. This study is the first report on the normal numbers and distribution of eosinophils throughout the gastrointestinal tract not only of an Asian population but also of adults. Our data suggest that a cutoff value for eosinophil counts, when rendering a diagnosis of eosinophilic gastrointestinal tract disease, should be individualized to the different biopsy sites. Interestingly, race and environmental factors did not seem to have a significant effect on eosinophil densities and distributions.


Subject(s)
Eosinophilia/ethnology , Eosinophilia/pathology , Eosinophils/pathology , Gastrointestinal Diseases/ethnology , Gastrointestinal Diseases/pathology , Gastrointestinal Tract/pathology , Racial Groups , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Asian , Asian People , Biopsy , Cell Count , Eosinophilia/surgery , Female , Gastric Mucosa/pathology , Gastrointestinal Diseases/surgery , Gastrointestinal Tract/surgery , Hawaii/epidemiology , Humans , Intestinal Mucosa/pathology , Japan/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Predictive Value of Tests , White People
10.
J Cardiol Cases ; 11(3): 96-99, 2015 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30546540

ABSTRACT

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of community-acquired bacterial meningitis in adults. Pneumococcal endocarditis coexisting with meningitis is rare, especially in healthy individuals. A 66-year-old woman was admitted with pneumococcal bacteremia, meningitis, and arthritis. She was in good condition before admission. Because of typical presentation of bacterial meningitis characteristics and normal echocardiographic findings, the patient was administered antibiotics for meningitis and arthritis. On hospitalization day 59, she developed a fever, and echocardiography showed severe aortic regurgitation, perforation, and vegetation of the aortic valve. She was diagnosed with pneumococcal endocarditis and underwent aortic valve replacement surgery. In general, invasive pneumococcal infections occur in debilitated middle-aged men with predisposing factors such as chronic alcoholism, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and immunosuppressive conditions. In this case, regardless of the appropriate treatment and no risk of invasive pneumococcal infections, infective endocarditis occurred. .

11.
Antivir Ther ; 20(2): 185-92, 2015.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24941012

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Liver fibrosis remains one of the most important predictors of sustained virological response (SVR) in this era of direct-acting antiviral treatment of chronic hepatitis C. We compare non-invasive fibrosis assessment with liver biopsy (METAVIR) in terms of their ability to predict SVR by telaprevir (TVR)-based triple therapy. METHODS: This prospective study consisted of 108 patients with chronic HCV genotype 1 infection who received TVR in combination with pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)-α2b and ribavirin (RBV). Non-invasive fibrosis data included transient elastography (FibroScan), FIB-4 index and aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI). RESULTS: SVR was achieved by 84.3% of the patients by intention-to-treat analysis. In contrast to the high SVR rates for treatment-naive patients (87.1%, 27 of 31) and patients who previously relapsed (97.9%, 46 of 47), the SVR rate of prior partial/null responders was significantly lower (60.0%, 18 of 30). The impact of fibrosis on SVR was greater for prior partial/null responders, and fibrosis data, including both METAVIR score and non-invasive fibrosis assessments, were useful for predicting SVR. The METAVIR score (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC] 0.91, cutoff ≤F2), FibroScan values (AUROC 0.99, cutoff ≤10.0 kPa), FIB-4 index (AUROC 0.91, cutoff ≤3.5) and APRI (AUROC 0.91, cutoff ≤0.80) were shown to have equal, excellent predictive power. CONCLUSIONS: An alternative to METAVIR score by liver biopsy, non-invasive fibrosis assessments are useful options for predicting SVR by prior partial or null responders in TVR-based triple therapy.


Subject(s)
Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Hepacivirus/drug effects , Hepatitis C, Chronic/drug therapy , Liver Cirrhosis/drug therapy , Viral Load/drug effects , Aged , Area Under Curve , Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood , Biomarkers/analysis , Biopsy , Drug Therapy, Combination , Elasticity Imaging Techniques , Female , Hepacivirus/physiology , Hepatitis C, Chronic/complications , Hepatitis C, Chronic/diagnosis , Hepatitis C, Chronic/pathology , Humans , Interferon-alpha/therapeutic use , Liver/drug effects , Liver/pathology , Liver/virology , Liver Cirrhosis/complications , Liver Cirrhosis/diagnosis , Liver Cirrhosis/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Oligopeptides/therapeutic use , Platelet Count , Polyethylene Glycols/therapeutic use , Predictive Value of Tests , Prognosis , Prospective Studies , ROC Curve , Recombinant Proteins/therapeutic use , Ribavirin/therapeutic use , Treatment Outcome
12.
Anticancer Res ; 34(6): 2755-61, 2014 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24922636

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Single tumors may show heterogeneity, and it is unclear whether biomarker expression in surgical and diagnostic biopsy samples correlates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified lung cancer patients who were diagnosed by biopsy and underwent surgery between January 2007 and October 2010 at the Shimane University Hospital, Shimane, Japan. Thirty-two patients were identified. The expression of four predictive biomarkers was assessed, namely excision repair cross-complementing gene 1 (ERCC1), ribonucleotide diphosphate reductase M1 (RRM1), thymidylate synthase (TS), and class III beta-tubulin (BT). We also compared immunohistochemical staining in diagnostic biopsy and corresponding resected surgical samples. RESULTS: Moderate correlation was seen between the expression of ERCC1, RRM1, TS, and BT in the biopsy and surgical specimens, with r values of 0.512 (p=0.003), 0.411 (p=0.020), 0.475 (p=0.006), and 0.404 (p=0.027), respectively. CONCLUSION: Assessment of biopsy samples with immunohistochemical staining is a feasible and reliable method for use in clinical decision making.


Subject(s)
Adenocarcinoma/metabolism , Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism , Carcinoma, Large Cell/metabolism , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/metabolism , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/metabolism , Lung Neoplasms/metabolism , Adenocarcinoma/pathology , Adenocarcinoma/surgery , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Carcinoma, Large Cell/pathology , Carcinoma, Large Cell/surgery , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/surgery , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/surgery , DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , Endonucleases/metabolism , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Immunoenzyme Techniques , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Lung Neoplasms/surgery , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Staging , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Ribonucleoside Diphosphate Reductase , Thymidylate Synthase/metabolism , Tubulin/metabolism , Tumor Suppressor Proteins/metabolism
13.
PLoS One ; 9(4): e95091, 2014.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24736434

ABSTRACT

The stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHRSP) is known to have exaggerated sympathetic nerve activity to various types of stress, which might contribute to the pathogenesis of severe hypertension and stroke observed in this strain. Previously, by using a congenic strain (called SPwch1.72) constructed between SHRSP and the normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY), we showed that a 1.8-Mbp fragment on chromosome 1 (Chr1) of SHRSP harbored the responsible gene(s) for the exaggerated sympathetic response to stress. To further narrow down the candidate region, in this study, another congenic strain (SPwch1.71) harboring a smaller fragment on Chr1 including two functional candidate genes, Phox2a and Ship2, was generated. Sympathetic response to cold and restraint stress was compared among SHRSP, SPwch1.71, SPwch1.72 and WKY by three different methods (urinary norepinephrine excretion, blood pressure measurement by the telemetry system and the power spectral analysis on heart rate variability). The results indicated that the response in SPwch1.71 did not significantly differ from that in SHRSP, excluding Phox2a and Ship2 from the candidate genes. As the stress response in SPwch1.72 was significantly less than that in SHRSP, it was concluded that the 1.2-Mbp congenic region covered by SPwch1.72 (and not by SPwch1.71) was responsible for the sympathetic stress response. The sequence analysis of 12 potential candidate genes in this region in WKY/Izm and SHRSP/Izm identified a nonsense mutation in the stromal interaction molecule 1 (Stim1) gene of SHRSP/Izm which was shared among 4 substrains of SHRSP. A western blot analysis confirmed a truncated form of STIM1 in SHRSP/Izm. In addition, the analysis revealed that the protein level of STIM1 in the brainstem of SHRSP/Izm was significantly lower when compared with WKY/Izm. Our results suggested that Stim1 is a strong candidate gene responsible for the exaggerated sympathetic response to stress in SHRSP.


Subject(s)
Hypertension/etiology , Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics , Stress, Physiological/genetics , Stroke/etiology , Sympathetic Nervous System/metabolism , Alleles , Animals , Chromosome Mapping , Disease Models, Animal , Gene Expression Profiling , Genetic Variation , Rats , Rats, Inbred SHR , Stromal Interaction Molecule 1 , Sympathetic Nervous System/physiopathology
14.
Intern Med ; 53(6): 617-21, 2014.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24633034

ABSTRACT

A 79-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for an investigation of a large 13-cm tumor in the chest and treatment for dyspnea in January 2010. The tumor had been observed on chest X-rays since 1992. It had measured 7 cm in 2008, then started to grow rapidly. Further investigations revealed that it was a malignant solitary fibrous tumor that was strongly suspected to have transformed from a benign to malignant state. Resection was not possible, and the patient died one month later. Benign solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura may become malignant during long-term follow-up. All suspected or proven solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura should be resected.


Subject(s)
Biopsy, Fine-Needle , Solitary Fibrous Tumor, Pleural/complications , Solitary Fibrous Tumor, Pleural/diagnosis , Aged , Biopsy, Fine-Needle/methods , Disease Progression , Dyspnea/etiology , Fatal Outcome , Fatigue/etiology , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Solitary Fibrous Tumor, Pleural/pathology , Time Factors
15.
Can Urol Assoc J ; 8(1-2): E104-7, 2014.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24554972

ABSTRACT

The precise mechanism of heterotopic ossification caused by several types of tumours is largely unknown. However, recent studies have indicated that bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) is closely linked to the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway in this rare phenomenon of bone formation. We report a rare case of adrenal myelolipoma (ML) in a 27-year-old woman with heterotopic bone formation. Immunohistochemical findings showed BMP2 expression in the cytoplasm of tumour cells, as well as the matrix adjacent to newly developed bone tissue. In addition, ß-catenin was prominent in the cytoplasm and nuclei of BMP2-positive tumour cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of adrenal ML showing heterotopic ossification with accelerated expression of both BMP2 and ß-catenin. Our case findings indicate that BMP2 overexpression via aberrant canonical Wnt/ß-catenin signaling may contribute to heterotopic bone formation occurring in adrenal ML.

16.
Surg Today ; 44(11): 2157-61, 2014 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24407283

ABSTRACT

Measuring tumor marker levels following cancer treatment can be useful. Although serum thyroglobulin is a useful marker after total thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), it is not a reliable marker for patients with a high titer of anti-thyroglobulin antibodies or when transformation to undifferentiated carcinoma has occurred. The female patient in this case report underwent total thyroidectomy and oral I-131 therapy for PTC at the age of 47 years, followed by cervical lymph node and lung resections for metastases, 3 and 11 years later, respectively. She also received oral I-131 therapy and external beam radiotherapy for mediastinal lymph node metastases. The lymphadenopathy lesions progressed and multiple lung metastases were detected when she was 61 years of age. She died at the age of 62 years. The serum CA19-9 level had gradually increased in association with enlargement of the recurrent lesions and immunostaining of CA19-9 in the pulmonary metastasis was intense. Thus, we consider that measuring the level of serum CA19-9 is an effective tool for evaluating disease status after surgery for PTC.


Subject(s)
CA-19-9 Antigen/biosynthesis , Carcinoma, Papillary/diagnosis , Carcinoma, Papillary/secondary , Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis , Lung Neoplasms/secondary , Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology , Thyroid Neoplasms/surgery , Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis , Biomarkers, Tumor/blood , CA-19-9 Antigen/analysis , CA-19-9 Antigen/blood , Carcinoma, Papillary/metabolism , Fatal Outcome , Female , Humans , Iodine Radioisotopes/therapeutic use , Lung Neoplasms/metabolism , Lymph Node Excision , Lymphatic Metastasis , Mediastinum , Middle Aged , Radiopharmaceuticals/therapeutic use , Thyroidectomy
17.
J Antimicrob Chemother ; 69(2): 483-90, 2014 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24092661

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This prospective, pharmacokinetic study was done to investigate the impact of telaprevir plasma trough concentration (Ctrough) in the early stage of treatment on the response to telaprevir-based triple therapy for chronic hepatitis C patients. METHODS: Participants were 70 chronic hepatitis C patients infected with genotype 1. All patients received 12 week triple therapy that included telaprevir (2250 mg/day), pegylated interferon-α2b (pegylated-IFNα2b) (60-150 µg/week) and ribavirin (600-1000 mg/day) followed by a 12 week dual therapy that included pegylated-IFNα2b and ribavirin. Plasma telaprevir Ctrough was determined by a validated assay using HPLC at days 3, 7 and 14. The study was registered as a clinical trial on the University Hospital Medical Information Network (ID 000009656). RESULTS: The rates of undetectable hepatitis C virus RNA at week 4 [rapid virological response (RVR)] and at 24 weeks after therapy [sustained virological response (SVR)] were 71.4% and 82.9%, respectively. Of the patients with RVR, 90% achieved SVR. The mean telaprevir Ctrough levels at days 3, 7 and 14 of SVR patients (2.748, 2.733 and 2.999 µg/mL, respectively) were significantly higher than those of non-SVR patients (1.616, 1.788 and 2.314 µg/mL, respectively) (all P < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis of possible predictors of SVR extracted higher telaprevir Ctrough at day 3 (OR 1.012 by 0.001 µg/mL, P < 0.0001) and interleukin 28B (rs8099917) TT allele (OR 6.16 versus non-TT alleles, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Therapeutic drug monitoring of telaprevir in the early stage of treatment is useful in clinical practice for predicting the virological response of patients receiving telaprevir-based triple therapy.


Subject(s)
Drug Monitoring/methods , Hepatitis C, Chronic/blood , Hepatitis C, Chronic/drug therapy , Interferon-alpha/blood , Oligopeptides/blood , Ribavirin/blood , Aged , Antiviral Agents/administration & dosage , Antiviral Agents/blood , Drug Therapy, Combination , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Hepatitis C, Chronic/diagnosis , Humans , Interferon alpha-2 , Interferon-alpha/administration & dosage , Male , Middle Aged , Oligopeptides/administration & dosage , Polyethylene Glycols/administration & dosage , Predictive Value of Tests , Prospective Studies , Recombinant Proteins/administration & dosage , Recombinant Proteins/blood , Ribavirin/administration & dosage , Treatment Outcome , Viral Load/drug effects , Viral Load/methods
18.
Environ Microbiol ; 15(12): 3183-95, 2013 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23679057

ABSTRACT

DnaA activity for replication initiation of the Escherichia coli chromosome is negatively regulated by feedback from the DNA-loaded form of the replicase clamp. In this process, called RIDA (regulatory inactivation of DnaA), ATP-bound DnaA transiently assembles into a complex consisting of Hda and the DNA-clamp, which promotes inter-AAA+ domain association between Hda and DnaA and stimulates hydrolysis of DnaA-bound ATP, producing inactive ADP-DnaA. Using a truncated DnaA mutant, we previously demonstrated that the DnaA N-terminal domain is involved in RIDA. However, the precise role of the N-terminal domain in RIDA has remained largely unclear. Here, we used an in vitro reconstituted system to demonstrate that the Asn-44 residue in the N-terminal domain of DnaA is crucial for RIDA but not for replication initiation. Moreover, an assay termed PDAX (pull-down after cross-linking) revealed an unstable interaction between a DnaA-N44A mutant and Hda. In vivo, this mutant exhibited an increase in the cellular level of ATP-bound DnaA. These results establish a model in which interaction between DnaA Asn-44 and Hda stabilizes the association between the AAA+ domains of DnaA and Hda to facilitate DnaA-ATP hydrolysis during RIDA.


Subject(s)
Adenosine Triphosphatases/metabolism , Bacterial Proteins/chemistry , Bacterial Proteins/metabolism , DNA Replication , DNA-Binding Proteins/chemistry , DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , Escherichia coli Proteins/metabolism , Escherichia coli/metabolism , Adenosine Triphosphatases/chemistry , Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism , Carrier Proteins/metabolism , DNA, Bacterial/metabolism , Escherichia coli/genetics , Escherichia coli Proteins/chemistry , Hydrolysis , Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
19.
J Occup Health ; 55(4): 292-300, 2013.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23698183

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to ascertain the actual state of toner exposure of workers who handle toner. METHODS: Personal exposure measurements were conducted on workers handling toner in which the respirable dust (RD) concentration by work type was determined. Targeted work types consisted of "machine recycling", "toner manufacturing", "toner research/development", "machine design/development" and "servicing." The implementation period lasted from April 2003 to March 2011, and measurements were conducted annually. The measurement method conformed to the Japanese Working Environment Measurement Standards (new standards adopted starting in 2005). RESULTS: Comparing the RD concentrations for fiscal year 2003 by work, significant differences were found between machine recycling and the other four work types, as well as in toner manufacturing and the other four work types. Similarly, based on the new legislative standards applied in Japan from fiscal year 2005, significant differences were found between machine recycling and the other four work types, as well as in toner manufacturing and the other four work types. DISCUSSION: It is clear that workers engaged in machine recycling and toner manufacturing are exposed to toner, and that a certain level of exposure is continuing. Although it cannot be said that workers involved in toner research/development, machine design/development and servicing have no toner exposure, the concentration is of an extremely low level. CONCLUSIONS: At present, toner exposure levels by work type can be divided into two groups-one consisting of machine recycling and toner manufacturing, and the other consisting of toner research/development, machine design/development and servicing.


Subject(s)
Copying Processes , Lung/drug effects , Manufactured Materials/adverse effects , Occupational Exposure/analysis , Occupations , Dust/analysis , Humans , Occupational Exposure/adverse effects
20.
Antiviral Res ; 99(2): 119-24, 2013 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23684903

ABSTRACT

Monitoring hepatitis C virus (HCV) kinetics during antiviral treatment is recommended for determining the best form of treatment management. We compared the measurement of HCV RNA by two Real-time PCR assays during the first 12weeks phase of telaprevir in combination with pegylated interferon α2b and ribavirin treatment for chronic hepatitis C patients. The viral kinetics of 65 patients with HCV genotype 1b was assessed. HCV RNA was tested at baseline, on day 3, and every week from 1 to 12 by both the first-generation Roche COBAS® AmpliPrep/COBAS® TaqMan® HCV (CAP/CTM) assay and the Abbott RealTime HCV (ART) assay. A total of 910 serum samples were obtained from the 65 patients. Of these, 168 (28.5%) of the 590 samples HCV RNA negative by CAP/CTM were positive by ART. In contrast, 17 (3.9%) of the 439 samples HCV RNA negative by ART were positive by CAP/CTM. The rates of HCV RNA negativity by ART at weeks 3, 4, and 5 were significantly lower than those by CAP/CTM (21.5% vs. 50.8%, 36.9% vs. 70.8% and 44.6% vs. 81.5%; P<0.001, P<0.0001 and P<0.05, respectively). Although the ART is superior for the determination of HCV RNA negativity, the predictive value of detectable HCV RNA for non-sustained virological response (non-SVR) by CAP/CTM is higher than by ART at weeks 4, 6, and 8. We also found that 16 (24.6%) by CAP/CTM and 28 (43.1%) by ART had a reappearance of residual HCV RNA during the telaprevir treatment period. However, the reappearance of residual HCV RNA was not associated with non-SVR. In conclusion, a significant difference was found between the two real-time PCR assays for the assessment of virological response based on undetectable HCV RNA.


Subject(s)
Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Hepacivirus/genetics , Hepatitis C, Chronic/drug therapy , Oligopeptides/therapeutic use , RNA, Viral/blood , Aged , Drug Therapy, Combination , Female , Humans , Interferon-alpha/therapeutic use , Male , Middle Aged , Polyethylene Glycols/therapeutic use , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Recombinant Proteins/therapeutic use , Ribavirin/therapeutic use
SELECTION OF CITATIONS
SEARCH DETAIL
...