Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) and Related Perfluorinated Compounds in Human Maternal and Cord Blood Samples: Assessment of PFOS Exposure in a Susceptible Population during Pregnancy

Fluorinated organic compounds (FOCs), such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), and perfluorooctane sulfonylamide (PFOSA), are widely used in the manufacture of plastic, electronics, textile, and construction material in the apparel, leather, and upholstery industries. FOCs have been detected in human blood samples. Studies have indicated that FOCs may be detrimental to rodent development possibly by affecting thyroid hormone levels. In the present study, we determined the concentrations of FOCs in maternal and cord blood samples. Pregnant women 17–37 years of age were enrolled as subjects. FOCs in 15 pairs of maternal and cord blood samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography–electrospray mass spectrometry coupled with online extraction. The limits of quantification of PFOS, PFOA, and PFOSA in human plasma or serum were 0.5, 0.5, and 1.0 ng/mL, respectively. The method enables the precise determination of FOCs and can be applied to the detection of FOCs in human blood samples for monitoring human exposure. PFOS concentrations in maternal samples ranged from 4.9 to 17.6 ng/mL, whereas those in fetal samples ranged from 1.6 to 5.3 ng/mL. In contrast, PFOSA was not detected in fetal or maternal samples, whereas PFOA was detected only in maternal samples (range, < 0.5 to 2.3 ng/mL, 4 of 15). Our results revealed a high correlation between PFOS concentrations in maternal and cord blood (r(2) = 0.876). However, we did not find any significant correlations between PFOS concentration in maternal and cord blood samples and age bracket, birth weight, or levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone or free thyroxine. Our study revealed that human fetuses in Japan may be exposed to relatively high levels of FOCs. Further investigation is required to determine the postnatal effects of fetal exposure to FOCs

Primary Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor of the Liver with Cystic Changes

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are known to originate specifically from the intestinal cells of Cajal located in the gastrointestinal mesenchyme. GISTs developing outside of the digestive tract have barely been reported. We encountered a first case of large primary GISTs in the liver with cystic changes. A 63-year-old man with a past history of brain infarction visited our hospital. The computed tomography (CT) revealed a 6-cm and a 10-cm mass in the right and the caudal lobe of the liver, respectively. These tumors have marginal enhancement in the arterial phase; however, they presented as hypodense in the internal tumor sites. Both liver tumors had cystic changes. Gastrointestinal examinations using endoscopy revealed no other gastrointestinal tumors, and [18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/CT revealed multiple bone metastases in addition to the liver tumors. The liver tumor specimens were composed of spindle cells, and the immunohistochemical staining for c-Kit and for DOG1, as discovered on GIST, was positive. The patient was diagnosed with primary hepatic GIST with cystic changes

Blood Rheology and Platelet Function in Untreated Early-Stage Essential Hypertensives Complicated with Metabolic Syndrome

We examined whether hemorheology and platelet function are affected in essential hypertensives (EHTs) of the World Health Organization stage I when complicated with metabolic syndrome (Mets). In 156 untreated EHTs, blood viscosity and platelet surface markers were determined. Blood viscosity was significantly elevated in 54 subjects with Mets compared with 102 subjects without Mets. Hematocrit and plasma viscosity increased in the group with Mets, although red blood cell rigidity index “k” did not differ between groups. As a whole group, blood viscosity correlated positively with hematocrit and plasma viscosity. Additionally, plasma viscosity correlated positively with plasma leptin, triglyceride, homeostasis model assessment index, C-reactive protein, and plasma fibrinogen, but negatively with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In contrast, no differences were seen in platelet surface markers between groups. In conclusion, EHTs of the early stage complicated with Mets are characterized by increased blood viscosity due to hemoconcentration and increased plasma viscosity

QOL in RA patients

近年QOLが重視されるようになってきている｡MOS short form 36 health survey (以下SF-36と略す)は,国際的レベルでの基準とされるべく開発された非疾患特異的HRQOL尺度である｡今回我々は当院でリハビリテーションをうけているRA患者を対象にSF-36を用いてQOL評価を行った｡SFl36の8項目をそれぞれ算出し,国民標準値との比較を行った. すべての項目において標準値を下回っていたが,特に,日常役割機能(身体),日常役割機能(精神),身体の痛み,身体横能において大きな開きを認めた｡また,PCSは平均35.8であり,MCSは平均49.1であった｡以上より,RA患者は身体に強い痛みを伴っているため精神健康面より身体横能面において制限を有していることが分かった｡We have recently regarded the QOL as important. SF-36 is a measure of HRQOL made as an international standard. We investigated the QOL in RA patients who under went rehabilitation in our hospital using SF-36. We calculated 8 items of SF-36 and compared those with Japanese standards. All items in RA patients were lower than Japanese standards. PCS was 35.8 on average and MCS was 49.1 on average

QOL in LBP patients

近年QOLが重視されるようになってきている。MOS short form 36 health survey（以下SF-36と略す）は，国際的レベルでの基準とされるべく開発された非疾患特異的HRQOL尺度である。今回，我々は当院でリハビリテーションをうけている腰痛症患者を対象に温泉療法のQOLに対する効果をSF－36を用いて調べた。SFL36の8項目をそれぞれ算出し，温泉療法前後での比較を行った。PCSは41.1から43.6へ, MCSは49.1から5l.0へ上昇したことより，身体・精神面ともに効果があると考えられた。We have recently regarded the QOL as an important index in the treatment of disease. SF-36 is a measure of HRQOL made as an international standard. We investigated the QOL in LBP patients who underwent rehabiritation in our hospital using SF-36. We calculated PCS and MCS of SF-36. PCS went up from 41.1 to 43.6. MCS went up from 49.1 to 51.0. The spa therapy for LBP patients was effective

QOL in OA patients

近年QOLが重視されるようになってきている｡MOS short form 36 health survey(以下SF-36と略す)は,国際的レベルでの基準とされるべく開発された非疾患特異的HRQOL尺度である.今回,我々は当院でリハビリテーションをうけているOA患者を対象に温泉療法の効果をSF-36を用いてQOLの変化を調べたoSF-36の8項目をそれぞれ算出し,温泉療法前後でのQOLの比較を行った｡pCSは36.4から37.1へ,MCSは53.0から55.4へ上昇したことより,身体･健東面ともに効果があると考えられた｡We have recently regarded the QOL as an important index in the treatment of disease. SF-36 is a measure of HRQOL made as an international standard. We investigated the QOL in OA patients who underwent rehabiritation in our hospital using SF-36. We calculated PCS and MCS of SF-36. PCS went up from 36.4 to 37. 1. MCS went up from 53.0 to 55.4. The spa therapy for OA patients is effective

Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha and Transforming Growth Factor-beta Synergistically Upregulate Endothelin-1 Expression in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells BEAS-2B

Endothelin-1 is a peptide with many functions including bronchoconstriction and the stimulation of fibroblasts, and myofibroblasts, and airway smooth muscle cell proliferation. These functions are related to airway remodeling and endothelin-1 is known to be upregulated in the epithelium of patients with severe asthma. We thus sought to elucidate the mechanisms underlying endothelin-1 expression in bronchial epithelial cells in vitro. The human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B was grown in culture and then treated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-13 (IL-13), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). Expression of endothelin-1 mRNA and protein was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. We also repressed expression of the key transcription factor in the pathogenesis of severe asthma, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), using small interfering RNA (siRNA). TNF-α and TGF-β significantly increased the release of endothelin-1 protein into the culture medium of BEAS-2B cells at 24 h after treatment compared to untreated cells; however, the Th2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-13, had no effect. Endothelin-1 mRNA expression was also upregulated by TNF-α and TGF-β with a peak time point at 4 h after stimulation. Finally, the combination of TNF-α and TGF-β synergistically increased both endothelin-1 protein secretion and mRNA expression, and this upregulation was significantly suppressed in cells transfected with siRNA to repress NF-κB expression. TNF-α and TGF-β synergistically upregulate the expression of endothelin-1 in human bronchial epithelial cells, possibly via the activity of NF-κB. Our findings thus suggest NF-κBa as a potential therapeutic target for the regulation of airway remodeling

Clinical significance in the number of involved lymph nodes in patients that underwent surgery for pathological stage III-N2 non-small cell lung cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Purpose</p> <p>This study investigated whether the number of involved lymph nodes is associated with the prognosis in patients that underwent surgery for pathological stage (p-stage) III/N2 NSCLC.</p> <p>Subjects</p> <p>This study evaluated 121 patients with p-stage III/N2 NSCLC.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The histological types included 65 adenocarcinomas, 39 squamous cell carcinomas and 17 others. The average number of dissected lymph nodes was 23.8 (range: 6-55). The average number of involved lymph nodes was 5.9 (range: 1-23). The 5-year survival rate of the patients was 51.0% for single lymph node positive, 58.9% for 2 lymph nodes positive, 34.2% for 3 lymph nodes positive, and 30.0% for 4 lymph nodes positive, and 20.4% for more than 5 lymph nodes positive. The patients with either single or 2 lymph nodes positive had a significantly more favorable prognosis than the patients with more than 5 lymph nodes positive. A multivariate analysis revealed that the number of involved lymph nodes was a significant independent prognostic factor.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Surgery appears to be preferable as a one arm of multimodality therapy in p-stage III/N2 patients with single or 2 involved lymph nodes. The optimal incorporation of surgery into the multimodality approach therefore requires further clinical investigation.</p