Human herpesvirus 6 infection impairs Toll-like receptor signaling

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) has a tropism for immunocompetent cells, including T lymphocytes, monocytes/macrophages, and dendritic cells (DCs) suggesting that HHV-6 infection affects the immunosurveillance system. Toll-like receptor (TLR) system plays an important role in innate immunity against various pathogens. In the present study, we investigated the effect of HHV-6 infection on the expression and intracellular signaling of TLRs in DCs. Although expression levels of TLRs were not decreased or slightly elevated following HHV-6 infection, the amounts of cytokines produced following stimulation with ligands for TLRs appeared to be dramatically decreased in HHV-6-infected DCs as compared to mock-infected DCs. Similarly, phosphorylation levels of TAK-1, IκB kinase, and IκB-α following stimulation of HHV-6-infected DCs with lipopolysaccharide, which is the ligand for TLR4, appeared to be decreased. These data show that HHV-6 impairs intracellular signaling through TLRs indicating the novel mechanism of HHV-6-mediated immunomodulation

Assessment of Culprit Lesion Morphology in Acute Myocardial Infarction Ability of Optical Coherence Tomography Compared With Intravascular Ultrasound and Coronary Angioscopy

ObjectivesThe aim of the present study was to evaluate the ability of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for assessment of the culprit lesion morphology in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in comparison with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and coronary angioscopy (CAS).BackgroundOptical coherence tomography is a new intravascular imaging method with a high resolution of approximately 10 μm. This may allow us to assess the vulnerable plaques in detail in vivo.MethodsWe enrolled 30 patients with AMI, and analyzed the culprit lesion by OCT, CAS, and IVUS.ResultsThe average duration from the onset of symptom to OCT imaging was 3.8 ± 1.0 h. The incidence of plaque rupture observed by OCT was 73%, and it was significantly higher than that by CAS (47%, p = 0.035) and IVUS (40%, p = 0.009). Furthermore, OCT (23%) was superior to CAS (3%, p = 0.022) and IVUS (0%, p = 0.005) in the detection of fibrous cap erosion. The intracoronary thrombus was observed in all cases by OCT and CAS, but it was identified in 33% by IVUS (vs. OCT, p < 0.001). Only OCT could estimate the fibrous cap thickness, and it was 49 ± 21 μm. The incidence of thin cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) was 83% in this population by OCT.ConclusionsOptical coherence tomography is a feasible imaging modality in patients with AMI and allows us to identify not only plaque rupture, but also fibrous cap erosion, intracoronary thrombus, and TCFA in vivo more frequently compared with conventional imaging techniques

Early clinical outcomes of 3D-conformal radiotherapy using accelerated hyperfractionation without intracavitary brachytherapy for cervical cancer

Purpose/Objective: To evaluate the outcome of cervical cancer patients unable to undergo conventional intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) treated with 3D-conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) alone using accelerated hyperfractionation (AHF). Methods and Materials: We reviewed the records of 7 patients who had received definitive radiotherapy with 3DCRT alone using AHF for cervical cancer between 2002 and 2005. FIGO stage was IB (1), IIB (2), IIIA (1), IIIB (2), and IVA (1). The reason we did not perform ICBT was due to patient refusal. In 1 patient with stage IB, a total dose of 65.4 Gy was delivered by local irradiation (LI) only. In 1 patient with stage IIIA, a total dose of 60 Gy was delivered by LI only. In 5 patients with Stage IIB-IV, a median total dose of 70.8 Gy was delivered by combination of whole pelvic irradiation (median dose of 45 Gy) with LI. Median overall treatment time was 42 days. Results: Median follow-up for survival patients was 17 months. Out of 7 patients, 6 patients had CR and 1 patient had PR. The response rate was 100%.0 The 2-year local control rate was 85.7%.0 Of these patients, 5 are alive without disease and 1 is alive with lung metastasis. Conclusions: Our outcomes suggest that 3DCRT using AHF may be a promising as a definitive treatment for cervical cancer when ICBT is not able to be performed