Coexistence of a pulmonary adenocarcinoma with a focal organizing pneumonia

We report a case of a pulmonary adenocarcinoma in coexistence with an organizing pneumonia. A 73-year-old male presented with an abnormal shadow on a chest X-ray. The pathological diagnosis, made via a partial resection, was a focal organizing pneumonia with reactive proliferation of the bronchial epithelium. Three years later, two tumors adjacent to the staple line were revealed by computed tomography. A left lower lobectomy was performed and both tumors were diagnosed as an adenocarcinoma. Because the histological findings for the atypical epithelial areas of the previous tumor were similar to the two new lesions in this patient, we regarded these tumors as a marginal recurrence.ArticleINTERACTIVE CARDIOVASCULAR AND THORACIC SURGERY. 13(4):444-446 (2011)journal articl

Characterization of bacterial-type phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase expressed in male gametophyte of higher plants

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Phospho<it>enol</it>pyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) is a critical enzyme catalyzing the β-carboxylation of phospho<it>enol</it>pyruvate (PEP) to oxaloacetate, a tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediate. PEPC typically exists as a Class-1 PEPC homotetramer composed of plant-type PEPC (PTPC) polypeptides, and two of the subunits were reported to be monoubiquitinated in germinating castor oil seeds. By the large-scale purification of ubiquitin (Ub)-related proteins from lily anther, two types of PEPCs, bacterial-type PEPC (BTPC) and plant-type PEPC (PTPC), were identified in our study as candidate Ub-related proteins. Until now, there has been no information about the properties of the PEPCs expressed in male reproductive tissues of higher plants.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Expression analyses showed that lily BTPC (LlBTPC) and <it>Arabidopsis </it>BTPC (AtBTPC) were significantly expressed in pollen. The fusion protein AtBTPC-Venus localized in the cytoplasm of the vegetative cell (VC). Both LlBTPC and AtBTPC expression initiated after the last mitosis before pollen germination. Lily PTPC (LlPTPC) and monoubiquitinated LlPTPC (Ub-LlPTPC) remained at constant levels during pollen development. In late bicellular pollen of lily, LlBTPC forms a hetero-octameric Class-2 PEPC complex with LlPTPC to express PEPC activity.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggest that an LlBTPC:Ub-LlPTPC:LlPTPC complex is formed in the VC cytoplasm during late pollen development. Both LlBTPC and AtBTPC expression patterns are similar to the patterns of the appearance of storage organelles during pollen development in lily and <it>Arabidopsis</it>, respectively. Therefore, BTPC is thought to accelerate the metabolic flow for the synthesis of storage substances during pollen maturation. Our study provides the first characterization of BTPC in pollen, the male gametophyte of higher plants.</p

A Small Tokamak “NOVA II”

A small tokamak, NOVA II, has been designed and constructed. The major radius is 30 cm, the minor radius 6 cm and the maximum toroidal field 15 kG. The device has a removable shell assembly for studying the stabilizing effect of a conductive shell. The basic concept of design and the specifications of the principal components are described. In preliminary experiments, stable discharge was maintained for 15 msec or longer. The electron temperatures measured by diamagnetism and conductivity are both above 100 eV. An electron density of 1-2×10¹³ cm⁻³ was observed by a 6 mm microwave interferometer. Spectroscopy of impurity lines and intensity measurement of hard X-ray radiation are also described

Dietary salt reduction in rural patients with albuminurea using family and community support: the Mima study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Residents of rural communities are often more socially connected compared to urban dwellers. Using family and community support to motivate health behavior change may be useful in rural settings. The objective of this study was to pilot a salt reduction (SR) intervention for rural albuminuria patients using support from family and neighborhood residents compared to a usual care condition. The primary outcome was change in urine albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>All consecutive outpatients with an ACR >= 30 mg/gCr were recruited from the Koyadaira Clinic. Patients self-selected their participation in the intervention group (IG) or the control group (CG) because the rural population expressed concern about not being treated at the same time. In the IG, patients and their families were educated in SR for 30 minutes in their home by experienced dieticians. In addition, patients, families and neighborhood residents were also educated in SR for 2 hours at a public town meeting hall, with educational content encouraging reduction in salt intake through interactive activity. The CG received conventional treatment, and ACR and blood pressure (BP) were measured after 3 months.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 37 subjects recruited (20 male, 16 female, mean age; 72.8 ± 9.2 years), 36 completed the 3-month follow up and were analyzed. In the IG, ACR decreased significantly from baseline (706 ± 1,081 to 440 ± 656; t = 2.28, p = 0.04) and was reduced compared to the CG (213 ± 323 to 164 ± 162; F = 3.50, p = 0.07), a treatment effect approaching significance. Systolic BP in the IG (145 ± 14 to 131 ± 13 mmHg; t = 3.83, p = 0.002) also decreased significantly compared to the CG (135 ± 13 to 131 ± 14; F = 4.40, p = 0.04).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Simultaneous education of patients, their families and neighborhood residents may be important in rural areas for treatments and interventions requiring health behavior change.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>UMIN000001972</p

Anti-prion activity of an RNA aptamer and its structural basis.

Prion proteins (PrPs) cause prion diseases, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The conversion of a normal cellular form (PrP(C)) of PrP into an abnormal form (PrP(Sc)) is thought to be associated with the pathogenesis. An RNA aptamer that tightly binds to and stabilizes PrP(C) is expected to block this conversion and to thereby prevent prion diseases. Here, we show that an RNA aptamer comprising only 12 residues, r(GGAGGAGGAGGA) (R12), reduces the PrP(Sc) level in mouse neuronal cells persistently infected with the transmissible spongiform encephalopathy agent. Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis revealed that R12, folded into a unique quadruplex structure, forms a dimer and that each monomer simultaneously binds to two portions of the N-terminal half of PrP(C), resulting in tight binding. Electrostatic and stacking interactions contribute to the affinity of each portion. Our results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of an RNA aptamer as to prion diseases

Impact of Polyp Regression on 2-year Outcomes of Intravitreal Aflibercept Injections: A Treat-and-Extend Regimen for Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy

We conducted intravitreal aflibercept injections (IVAs) for 37 Japanese patients (28 males, 9 females, mean age 73.4 years) with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), with a treat-and-extend regimen (TER). We evaluated the impact of polyp regression after a loading dose (2-mg IVA 1×/month for 3 months) on the patients' 2-year treatment outcomes. Thirty-seven eyes were treated with IVA by a TER for 2 years. We divided the patients into 2 groups based on their polyp status after the loading dose: polyp regression (PR+) (n=19) and no polyp regression (PR−) (n=18). We compared the groups’ best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), recurrence rate, total number of injections, and final treatment interval. Both the BCVA and CRT were significantly improved by the treatment in both groups, with no between-group difference in the amount of change (p=0.769). In the polyp regression (+) group, recurrence was significantly less common (p=0.03), the mean total number of injections was significantly lower (p=0.013), and the mean treatment interval was significantly longer (0.042). Regarding the 2-year outcomes for PCV, the eyes with post-loading-dose polyp regression demonstrated less frequent recurrence and required fewer numbers of injections compared to the eyes without polyp regression

Cellular Immunity of Patients with Lung Cancer and Other Lung Diseases II. Analysis of interleukin-2 production

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from patients with lung cancer and noncancerous respiratory diseases was determined. The results are as follows: 1) Neither sex nor age difference was observed for IL-2 production among healthy people. 2) IL-2 production showed a positive correlation with the Leu-3a/Leu-2a ratio and a negative correlation with the percentage of HLA-DR+ cells. 3) IL-2 production of patients with lung cancer and noncancerous respiratory diseases did not differ from that of healthy persons. 4) No difference in IL-2 production was found in relation to the clinical stage of lung cancer, but subjects with low IL-2 production were mostly observed in the advanced stage group (Stage IV)