Immunohistochemical study of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma in the leg: a case report.

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a relatively rare lesion. Although its histogenesis has been well described, its immunohistochemical characteristics remain controversial. A case of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the soft tissue of the right leg in a 67-year-old Chinese woman is reported. Histologic findings of intracytoplasmic lumina in the tumor cells and positive immunostaining for vimentin, factor VIII-related antigen. CD34 and Ulex europaeus agglutinin 1 (UEA-1) were obtained, demonstrating differentiation of the tumor cells to endothelial cells, although staining for antibodies to cytokeratins AE1/AE3 and CAM5.2 was weak. CD34 as well as Factor VIII-related antigen is a useful marker of endothelial differentiation in this tumor. A review of the literature is also presented. </p

Various Types of HIV Mixed Infections in Cameroon

AbstractIn order to assess the incidence of HIV mixed infection as well as to clarify the molecular epidemiology of HIV in central Africa, we investigated 43 HIVs obtained from 211 Cameroonian AC, ARC, and AIDS patients in 1994 and 1995. Part of thepolregion and part of theenvregion were phylogenetically analyzed. The genotypes observed were varied: of 43 specimens, 28 (65%) were subtype A, 1 (2%) was subtype B, 2 (5%) were subtype D, 3 (7%) were subtype F, and 2 (5%) were group O. Of the remaining 7 specimens, 3 were mixed infections with HIV-1 subtypes A and C, HIV-1 subtypes C and F, and HIV-2 subtype A and HIV-1 subtype A; 1 was a mixed infection with HIV-1 subtypes A and D and the highly divergent group O (triple infection); another 3 appeared to consist of mosaic genomes (A/G, A/E, and B/A recombinant). These data show that various types of mixed infection, such as between different subtypes of HIV-1 group M, between HIV-1 and HIV-2, and even between HIV-1 groups O and M, were confirmed at a rather high frequency (approximately 10%). The mixed infection is particularly significant where there is a greater variety of HIV-1 subtypes circulating, since it results in new genetic diversity generated by intersubtype recombination

Genetic diversity of HIV type 1 in Likasi, southeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo

金沢大学医薬保健研究域医学系To investigate the prevalence of subtypes A and C, and the existence of recombinants of both subtypes in the southeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), blood samples were collected from 27 HIV-infected individuals in Likasi, located in an area bordering close to Zambia, and analyzed phylogenetically. Out of the 24 strains with a positive PCR profile for pol-IN and env-C2V3, 15 (62.5%) had a discordant subtype or CRF designation: one subtype A/G (pol/env), four A/U (unclassified), three G/A, one G/CRF01, three H/A, one J/C, one CRF02 (G)/A, and one U/A. Nine (37.5%) strains had a concordant subtype or CRF designation: five subtype A, two C, one D, and one CRF02/G. The remaining three samples negative for PCR with env-C2V3 primers used in this study were further analyzed with env-gp41 primers and revealed the presence of two profiles: two J/J (pol-IN/env-gp41) and one C/G. These data highlight the presence of a high proportion (16/27, 59.3%) of recombinant strains and a low prevalence (4.1 and 7.4%) of subtype C based on env-C2V3 and pol-IN analyses, respectively, in Likasi. In addition, this is the first report that CRF02_AG exists in DRC, though the epidemiological significance of the existence of CRF02_AG in DRC remains unknown

e-Learningによる英語学習の試行 : 学習促進のための効果的な支援の在り方の考察

本研究は、近年新しい教育方法として注目されているe-Learningを英語のリメディアル教育に応用し、英語力が比較的弱い大学生の英語学習を支援することを目的に取り組んだ試みをまとめたものである。 e-Leamingにおいては、「良質の教育コンテンツ」と「適切な学習支援」が学習効果の面で重要となるが、本研究では教育コンテンツはメディア教育開発センター開発の英語リメディアル教材「University Voices」および「Bridge教材」を利用する機会を得たため、当面の研究課題を学習支援の在り方に絞って取り組んだ。具体的には、所属学科・学年・英語力において多様な属性を持つ大学生の協力を得て、約2ヶ月間の自主学習期間中に様々な学習支援を試みた。具体的には、対面によるもの、各種印刷物の配布・掲示、電子メールの利用、電子ニュースレターの発行、電話の利用などの手段を、個別指導、集団指導の場面に応じて使い分けた。取り組みの結果、学習支援の面では電子メールによる活動報告と返信メールによる励まし・疑問への回答が非常に有効であったこと、特に返信メールを英文にしたことが学生の意欲を刺激したこと、また、学生の状況に応じて学習者に共通する課題などを中心にした電子ジャーナルを発行したことなどが、学習を支援する上で有効であった。結果的にドロップアウトする例は一般的に予想されるよりも相当少ないという結果を得た。e-Learning, or Web-based learning, was used for remedial English language education. e-Learning requires good educational materials and a good support system. Remedial English courseware "University Voices" and "Beginner\u27s Class" were made available by the National Institute of Multimedia Education. Thus, the main focus was the development of a support system for two months of self-study by students from a range of majors, grade levels and English language abilities. This included face-to-face consultation sessions, printed handouts, posted notices, email messages, email newsletters and telephone contact. Most helpful were responses to student email messages of progress reports, impressions, and questions about the materials as well as study skills. Instructors responded in English and Japanese with messages of support and advice. Repeatedly appearing questions were presented in newsletters. Overall, the dropout rate was much lower than usually found in Web-based programs, indicating the importance of human support

The Changing Landscape for Stroke\ua0Prevention in AF: Findings From the GLORIA-AF Registry Phase 2

Background GLORIA-AF (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) is a prospective, global registry program describing antithrombotic treatment patterns in patients with newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke. Phase 2 began when dabigatran, the first non\u2013vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC), became available. Objectives This study sought to describe phase 2 baseline data and compare these with the pre-NOAC era collected during phase&nbsp;1. Methods During phase 2, 15,641 consenting patients were enrolled (November 2011 to December 2014); 15,092 were eligible. This pre-specified cross-sectional analysis describes eligible patients\u2019 baseline characteristics. Atrial fibrillation&nbsp;disease characteristics, medical outcomes, and concomitant diseases and medications were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Of the total patients, 45.5% were female; median age was 71 (interquartile range: 64, 78) years. Patients were from Europe (47.1%), North America (22.5%), Asia (20.3%), Latin America (6.0%), and the Middle East/Africa (4.0%). Most had high stroke risk (CHA2DS2-VASc [Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age&nbsp; 6575 years, Diabetes mellitus, previous Stroke, Vascular disease, Age 65 to 74 years, Sex category] score&nbsp; 652; 86.1%); 13.9% had moderate risk (CHA2DS2-VASc&nbsp;= 1). Overall, 79.9% received oral anticoagulants, of whom 47.6% received NOAC and 32.3% vitamin K antagonists (VKA); 12.1% received antiplatelet agents; 7.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. For comparison, the proportion of phase 1 patients (of N&nbsp;= 1,063 all eligible) prescribed VKA was 32.8%, acetylsalicylic acid 41.7%, and no therapy 20.2%. In Europe in phase 2, treatment with NOAC was more common than VKA (52.3% and 37.8%, respectively); 6.0% of patients received antiplatelet treatment; and 3.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. In North America, 52.1%, 26.2%, and 14.0% of patients received NOAC, VKA, and antiplatelet drugs, respectively; 7.5% received no antithrombotic treatment. NOAC use was less common in Asia (27.7%), where 27.5% of patients received VKA, 25.0% antiplatelet drugs, and 19.8% no antithrombotic treatment. Conclusions The baseline data from GLORIA-AF phase 2 demonstrate that in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, NOAC have been highly adopted into practice, becoming more frequently prescribed than VKA in&nbsp;Europe and North America. Worldwide, however, a large proportion of patients remain undertreated, particularly in&nbsp;Asia&nbsp;and North America. (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [GLORIA-AF]; NCT01468701