Useful Cases of Patients With Developmental Disorders Improved by Oral Administration of LPS Derived from Pantoea agglomerans.

BACKGROUND: Developmental disorders are associated with microglial dysfunction. Oral administration of lipopolysaccharide derived from Pantoea agglomerans bacteria (LPSp) leads to normalization of phagocytic activity of microglia and suppression of inflammation in mice. In this article, we report on a successful trial in which we achieved a significant improvement of symptoms in patients with developmental disorders. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Five pediatric patients diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD)/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who visited our clinic received either 0.75 or 1 mg/day LPSp for 6 months or more, in addition to our usual therapy regimens (detoxification therapy, nutritional therapy, and vibration therapy). A survey questionnaire was completed by the patients' parents and evaluated using the Numerical Rating Scale. RESULTS: Behavior, verbal ability, and communication disabilities associated with ASD/ADHD improved in all patients. CONCLUSION: Oral administration of LPSp may represent a new treatment option in the area of developmental disorders where there is currently no treatment available.

Improvement in Protracted Wound Healing by Topical Cream Containing Lipopolysaccharide Derived from Pantoea agglomerans.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The wound-healing effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) reportedly results from its ability to induce the removal of foreign bodies, anti-inflammatory function, and tissue-repair function. We reported the improvement of patients with protracted wound healing after the dermal administration of topical cream containing LPS derived from Pantoea agglomerans, which is a symbiotic bacterium present in wheat and confirmed as safe. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Topical cream with LPS was applied on four patients who showed protracted wound healing, after their informed consent. The wound was evaluated on the basis of the change in the approximate wound volume calculated from the width, length, and depth of the wound. RESULTS: Case 1: A 76-year-old man developed infection at the puncture site after endovascular laser treatment of the right lower extremity varicose veins and suffered protracted wound healing. The wound was treated with gentamicin application containing LPS, and shrank in two weeks. Case 2: A 72-year-old man developed a wound infection and had purulent drainage one week after endovascular laser treatment of the left lower extremity varicose veins. The wound was closed in one month using gentamicin application containing LPS. Case 3: A 67-year-old woman with protracted wound healing developed infection in the right inguinal region after the surgical treatment of acute aortic dissection and experienced complete wound dehiscence. The wound shrank one week after gauze packing with LPS and was temporarily sutured. The wound was completely closed in two weeks with gentamicin application containing LPS. Case 4: An 86-year-old woman with protracted wound healing became bedridden after cerebral infarction and developed pressure ulcers in the sacral area. The ulcer disappeared in four months with LPS-containing sugar and povidone-iodine application twice a day. There were no adverse effects from LPS application in any of these patients. CONCLUSION: In diabetes, one cause of protracted wound healing is the low innate immune function, such as the phagocytic activity of macrophages. LPS is expected to promote healing by improving innate immunity, and its beneficial effect of promoting wound healing was clearly demonstrated in the present cases. The topical application of LPS is clinically effective for wound healing and is considered a potentially novel treatment method.

Clinical Effects of Orally Administered Lipopolysaccharide Derived from Pantoea agglomerans on Malignant Tumors.

BACKGROUND/AIM: It has been reported that oral administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) recovers an individual's immune condition and induces the exclusion of foreign matter, inflammation and tissue repair. We orally administered LPS from the wheat symbiotic bacteria Pantoea agglomerans, which has been ingested and proven to be safe, to cancer patients. Our observation of clinical improvements resulting from this treatment are reported. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixteen cancer patients who exhibited declined small intestinal immune competence were treated between June and September, 2015. Diagnosis was based on our evaluation on small intestinal immune competence and macrophage activity. RESULTS: The state of malignant tumors at 3 months after starting this treatment was complete recovery for 3 cases, remission for 7 cases, maintenance for 4 cases, exacerbation for 1 case and death for 1 case (total response rate=62.5%). Small intestinal immune competence and macrophage activity recovered in all cases, suggesting that oral administration of LPS contributes to disease improvement. No clear side-effects that appeared to be related to LPS intake were noted. CONCLUSION: Intake of an appropriate level of Pantoea agglomerans LPS recovers small intestinal immune competence and macrophage activity, contributing to improvement of malignant tumors' therapy.

[Sharing patient information using iPads in the introduction of IT for home medical care-construction of a network for home care].

In hospitals, information technology(IT)has been a natural part of care for some time. However, IT has not yet been widely introduced into home care. While performing home care, healthcare providers must carry numerous patients' medical records, and are unable to share the information included in those records with other providers. Thus, we introduced the system of sharing patient information using iPads. This system enables access to patient information regardless of time and place. In addition, we can share information such as X-ray images and computed tomography(CT)scans between different clinics. Thus, we are able to give clearer instructions to patients and other providers in a smoother way. This system could be used to construct a network for home care. In the future, we could aim to share patient information within a much wider network, including families and other kinds of organizations, for optimal care. This system will aid in the development of IT use in home care.

Successful surgical treatment of intravascular ultrasonography catheter entrapment.

Coronary angiography (CAG) was performed in a 77-year-old woman who presented with chest discomfort. The CAG showed two diseased vessels. For treatment, the patient underwent angioplasty and stenting. During intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS) following stent deployment, the IVUS catheter became entrapped in the left anterior descending coronary artery, causing ischemic changes in the anterolateral wall, which were apparent on the electrocardiogram. The patient underwent emergency coronary artery bypass grafting and removal of the entrapped IVUS catheter.

Successful aortic valve replacement for Heyde syndrome with confirmed hematologic recovery.

Aortic valve stenosis can be complicated by recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding, particularly that due to angiodysplasia, also called Heyde syndrome. Recently, acquired type 2A von Willebrand disease, which is characterized by the loss of the large multimer of von Willebrand factor by the shear stress of aortic valve stenosis, was reported to be associated with this hemorrhagic syndrome. A 78-year-old woman, with severe aortic stenosis, presented with advanced anemia due to recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding and was diagnosed Heyde syndrome. By perioperative supplementation of von Willebrand factor and factor VIII, aortic valve replacement was safely performed without gastrointestinal bleeding. After the operation, the multimer of von Willebrand factor was normalized and thereafter no gastrointestinal bleeding occurred. This case reports the successful aortic valve replacement for Heyde syndrome, with confirmed hematologic recovery.

[Calcified amorphous tumors with excision in hemodialysis patients: report of 2 cases].

We report 2 cases of calcified amorphous tumor (CAT) in hemodialysis patients. Case 1 is a 68-year-old man who had received hemodialysis for 11 years due to diabetic nephropathy with renal failure. He was admitted because of shortness of breath. After appropriate diagnostic testing, we found a 7 mm movable tumor on the side of the left atrium causing stenosis at the base of the left anterior descending artery (LAD). We suspected this to be a myxoma. We performed a myxomectomy and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The tumor had a stalk and hemogenesis on the surface. Case 2 is a 63-year-old man who had received continuous ambulatory peritoneal hemodialysis for 18 months due to diabetic nephropathy with renal failure. He was admitted because of subjective complaints of chest compression and shortness of breath. Ultrasound cardiography revealed 16 mm tumor on the posterior mitral valve leaflet with mild mitral regurgitation. We removed the tumor and placed a mitral valve prosthesis. Grossly the tumor was encapsulated with endocardium. On pathological examination, both tumors were CATs. CAT is a lesion characterized by calcified fibrin deposits. Preoperative diagnosis of these tumors is difficult. While many surgeons elect to conservatively watch these tumors among dialysis patients, when they are movable, there is a risk of embolism and we should remove the tumor early.

Saphenous vein graft rupture eighteen years after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Delayed saphenous vein graft (SVG) rupture following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is an unusual but potentially fatal complication. Herein we report a case of SVG rupture 18 years after CABG. A 75-year-old man had undergone a CABG with SVG in 1987 at another institution. In 2004 the patient developed angina and underwent re-CABG with arterial conduits in our hospital. On the preoperative cineangiogram, the SVG to the right coronary artery (RCA) was irregularly dilated, yet still providing flow to the distal RCA. In 2005 he was readmitted to our hospital for abdominal pain. Chest computed tomography revealed a huge round mass adjacent to the heart. Cineangiogram showed leakage of the contrast in the midportion of the SVG. At operation, graft rupture was evident and repaired under cardiopulmonary bypass. Although cardiac function was well maintained, after the surgery he developed ischemic colitis and died of multiple organ failure on the 17th postoperative day.

Dissecting aortic aneurysm in a renal transplant recipient.

There have been few reports of surgical repair of acute aortic dissection in renal transplant recipients. The incidence, operative risk, or perioperative management of aortic dissection with functioning allografts remains unknown. Herein we report our experience in successful treatment of type I dissecting aortic aneurysm in a renal transplant patient. A 35-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of severe chest pain. He had undergone a living renal transplant from his mother for chronic renal failure caused by immunoglobulin A nephropathy 11 years prior to admission. An immunosuppressive regimen had been maintained continuously. Preoperative chest computed tomography demonstrated a thoracic dissecting aortic aneurysm (DeBakey classification type I). An emergent graft replacement for the ascending aorta was placed under circulatory arrest. Although continuous hemodiafiltration was required postoperatively because of deteriorated renal function, he recovered uneventfully and his renal function returned to preoperative values. He was discharged on postoperative day 26 without any complications.