Immune Milk Suppresses Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1.

Immune milk has been developed as a substitute for colostrum and contains a high concentration of IgG antibodies specific to the immunized pathogens. Meanwhile, bovine herpesvirus type-1 (BHV-1) naturally infects cattle worldwide, and its antibody is found in milk. Moreover, BHV-1 glycoprotein K, the major antigen, exhibits substantial homology with human herpes virus simplex 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein K. On the basis of this evidence, we hypothesized BHV-1 antibody exists in immune milk and suppresses HSV-1 activity. This study investigated whether immune milk IgG recognizes HSV-1 and suppresses HSV-1 activity. IgG in immune milk was purified by affinity Protein A columns, and HSV-1-reactive IgG in immune milk IgG was detected and quantified by ELISA. The efficacy of the IgG against HSV-1 was analyzed using a reduction assay based on the cytopathic effect due to HSV-1 in the presence of macrophages. We detected a high concentration of HSV-1-reactive IgG in immune milk. Furthermore, IgG suppressed HSV-1 pathogenicity in the presence of macrophages. These results indicate immune milk has protective activity against HSV-1 by opsonic activity owing to its high concentration of HSV-1-reactive IgG, which is likely the BHV-1 antibody. HSV-1 is currently a refractory infection with a worldwide distribution. Primary infection occurs via the oral cavity, but there is no effective precaution at this time. However, the present results suggest that taking oral immune milk may be an effective measure to prevent primary HSV-1 infection in the oral cavity.

Establishment and characterization of a novel lymphangiosarcoma cell line (MO-LAS) compared with the hemangiosarcoma cell line (ISO-HAS).

The concept of "lymphangiosarcoma" remains obscure. Therefore, we reported a patient with lymphangiosarcoma, resistant to immunotherapy. The patient presented with impressive and discriminative features: clinically an ill-defined edematous lesion with lymphorrhea and pathologically atypical vascular channel formation without extravasation of blood, clearly distinguished from common angiosarcoma with hemorrhage. From this case, a lymphangiosarcoma cell line, MO-LAS, was established and its characteristics were compared with the hemangiosarcoma cell line, ISO-HAS. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that MO-LAS was negative for factor VIII-related antigen, but positive for CD31, D2-40, NZ-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3), similar to ISO-HAS. However, MO-LAS expressed a much higher level of homeobox gene PROX1, indicating a lymphatic phenotype, compared with ISO-HAS. Furthermore, MO-LAS showed a much lesser expression of oncogenes and much lower sensitivity against lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells. Lymphangiosarcoma may be difficult to recognize by the immune system. Conclusively, the establishment of MO-LAS, a novel angiosarcoma cell line bearing lymphatic characters, strongly suggests the entity of lymphangiosarcoma.

High-concentration (20 mug/g) tacalcitol ointment therapy on refractory psoriasis vulgaris with low response to topical corticosteroids.

The efficacy and safety of the application of high-concentration (20 mug/g) tacalcitol ointment once daily for 12 weeks to psoriasis vulgaris lesions which showed low response to topical corticosteroids, were evaluated in a prospective, multicenter, open-label study. Eighty patients were enrolled in the safety analysis of the test drug, and 54 of the 80 patients in the efficacy analysis. The efficacy rate based on the number of cases graded as "moderate improvement" or better in the final global improvement rating of the 54 cases included in the efficacy analysis, was 88.9% (95% CI: 77.4-95.8%). Significant improvement in erythema, thickness, and scaling was observed from 2 weeks of treatment onward (p < 0.001). Five local adverse reactions (2 events of irritation, 2 events of itching, and 1 event of redness) were observed in 3 of the 80 patients included in the safety analysis. There were no significant changes in mean serum calcium values. Tacalcitol 20 mug/g ointment is concluded to be effective and safe for the treatment of refractory psoriasis vulgaris with low response to topical corticosteroids.

Long-term safety and efficacy of high-concentration (20 microg/g) tacalcitol ointment in psoriasis vulgaris.

A multi-center open prospective research was conducted in order to assess the safety and efficacy of tacalcitol 20 microg/g ointment once daily (maximum 10 g/day) in the long-term treatment of psoriasis vulgaris. For the 74 subjects included in the 54-week efficacy analysis, the mean PASI score at the beginning of the study was 22.49 10.20 (mean SD), which was 5.73 6.04 after 54 weeks. A significant decrease (p < 0.001) in the mean PASI score was seen after 1 week of application, and the score remained almost constant after 18 weeks through 54 weeks. Twenty-five local adverse drug reactions were noticed in 16 of the 154 subjects included in the safety analysis. No increase in the incidence of severe adverse drug reactions was seen in the long-term administration of tacalcitol 20 microg/g ointment. Although a significant decrease in the intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 1alpha,25-(OH)2D3 was observed, the homeostasis of the corrected serum calcium was maintained. Tacalcitol 20 microg/g ointment, applied once daily at doses of up to 10 g/day (200 microg tacalcitol), is safe and effective, even in long-term administration, in the treatment of patients with psoriasis vulgaris. Serum calcium should be monitored in patients with decreased renal function and other suspected impairment of calcium metabolism, before and during the treatment with tacalcitol 20 microg/g ointment.